Come join in on some Texas fun while helping to support Austin’s largest no-kill, non-profit pet adoption center, the Austin Humane Society. The Winfield Inn and The Simplifiers are hosting Bark For A Cause on Wednesday, May 16th from 6 to 9 pm. This fundraising event is sure to be a casual, family- friendly evening of socializing and fun that will build awareness of the opportunities to contribute to a long-standing organization and cause.

This Texas Country Fair themed event includes a silent auction, appetizers, BBQ, cocktails, and a dessert bar. Guests will enjoy fair games, a photo booth, and live music as they mingle with a community of like-minded pet lovers and raise money for a good cause!

Leaders in the Austin events industry, including The Simplifiers, Premiere Party Central, Say Cheese Photo Booth, Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop, Cory Ryan Photography, Central Market, The Lemonade Co., D Zine Graphics, Sweet Stuff, Texas Pie Company, and Simon Lee Bakery are banding together to provide an unforgettable evening under the stars.

Tickets run $25 for an individual, $40 for a couple, and $175 for a table (8 guests). All proceeds benefit the Austin Humane Society.

All ages are welcome to attend Bark For A Cause. Click here to purchase tickets.

About the Austin Humane Society

Formed in 1952, AHS is the largest no-kill, non-profit pet adoption center in Austin. The Austin Humane Society is dedicated to saving Austin’s homeless cats and dogs, educating the Austin community about responsible pet ownership and reducing pet over-population. The Austin Humane Society is a community resource that promotes compassion toward animals.

Away Spa at the W Hotel

Shower her with memorable gifts or take her out to an unforgettable brunch or event this Mother’s Day in Austin.

We have some great gift ideas from Limbo Jewelry and the Away Spa at W Austin.  Limbo Jewelry features an endless selection of exquisite jewelry at an affordable price. A classic pair of stylish hoop earrings can really show your appreciation.

Litho Large Hooked Earrings in Sterling Silver from Limbo Jewelry

Founded in 2005 as an intimate and unassuming retail pop-up shop on South Congress by husband-wife team Edson Enriquez and Anne Rutt-Enriquez, Limbo’s brand has grown in strides due to Edson’s uncommon take on architectural jewelry, art, and nature-inspired designs and Anne’s complementary professional experiences in marketing and public relations.

“I am trying to prove a point with my work. Things, shapes, and forms are beautiful already. We as designers do not need to add to them or drastically transform them. Our job is to simply enhance them and present them the right way,” says Edson Enriquez about his work.

Don’t miss your chance to give your mother a piece of jewelry encompassing beauty and simplicity.

Drop Horizon Bangle Bracelet from Limbo Jewelry

If she has enough jewelry, give the gift of relaxation at W’s Away Spa with one of their three indulgent Mother’s Day spa packages or a special Mother’s Day gift set assembled by Away Spa experts.

Away Spa has three different Mother’s Day packages to choose from. The Mother’s Wind Down for moms on-the-go features the Away signature scrub, wrap, and massage as well as an Away pedicure for $175 (regularly $220). The New Mama Delight, special for expectant mothers, features a 75-minute mother-to-be massage and an Away mani & pedi for $250 (regularly $290). Mom’s Favorite package, a special treat for someone who deserves the best, involves a 75-minute Away massage, Classic Radiance Facial, and an Away Manicure for $275 (regularly $330).

If she doesn’t have time to go to  the spa, bring the spa to her with Away’s fabulous gift set. The assortment of luxe products for anytime pampering consists of an AWAY soy candle in Eucalyptus Spearmint, Farmhouse Fresh Honey Magnolia Sparkling Bath Soak, Farmhouse Fresh Honey Heel Glaze, Organic Silk Lavender Eye Pillow, Farmaesthetics Eyebright, MALIN+GOETZ Vitamin B5 Body Moisturizer, and MALIN+GOETZ Mojito Lip Balm. This package is priced at $140. Gift cards are also available.

The Tea Embassy

While the Mother’s Day Tea Tasting is currently sold out at downtown’s Tea Embassy on the corner of 9th and Rio Grande, you can still surprise her with premium loose-leaf teas or tea ware. Tea Embassy is a family-owned business with over 200 teas from around the world. Whether you are looking for a hand-made tea from the country Georgia on the Black Sea or a Japanese bamboo whisk for making Matcha, the Tea Embassy has got it. Their current samples include Green Treasures Tea, Lapsang Souchong Black Tea, and Sentimint Rooibos.

Or, fill her day with sunshine and love with a fresh bouquet of flowers. For a friendly full-service florist serving the Austin area, look no further than Texas Blooms, located in the Triangle.

Austin even has you covered for free Mother’s Day events. Check out the Austin Symphonic Band (aka the “Official Band of the City of Austin”) as they celebrate Mother’s Day with a free concert at the Texas State Capitol. Beginning at 7 pm, the band will perform an hour-long concert of well-known tunes, including marches and musical numbers. This free annual concert becomes more popular every year, so producers recommend coming early and bringing your lawn chairs.

Onto brunch! With a smörgåsbord of brunches, offerings and dinners, it can be quite hard to narrow down. Below are some of our favorites.

Chef Joe Anguiano from eleven plates & wine will be creating an amazing carving station. For veggie lovers, a spring mix of baby squash, snap peas, vine-ripe tomatoes, and baby turnips will accompany. The charcuterie and cheese plate will be loaded up with delicacies like Manchego, Tomme de Savoie, Texas goat cheese, proscuitto, and more. Mimosas and sangria come bottomless.

Dine in the cozy Italian farmhouse setting at Sagra for an intimate and elegant Mother’s Day. Brunch consists of a gourmet Italian buffet complete with banana French toast, caprese salad, pastiera and chicken piccata among others.

Bistrot Mirabelle will roll out the red carpet for Mother’s Day with a wonderful array of new brunch additions, including lobster pot pie, grilled salmon, and prime rib. Popular brunch items include the Eggs Hemingway and the Challah French toast. Every mother receives a complimentary flower upon arrival and her choice of a gluten-free coconut or chocolate macaroon at the meal’s end.

Chef Jeff Axline at Lakeway Resort & Spa will be creating a Mother’s Day brunch composed of both cold and hot choices along with a delicious spread of desserts. Brunch will be held in the Vista’s Ballroom overlooking the lake. A petting zoo an live entertainment going on throughout the day will provide fun for families of all ages.

Or get Mother’s Day brunch — to go! The instructors at Whole Foods have done all the prep work and are ready to guide you through creating a menu of strawberry salad, quiche florentine and cinnamon rolls with ginger cream cheese icing. The brunch comes stocked with a package of locally roasted Cuvee Coffee along with Prosecco and orange juice for mimosas. This hands-on package is priced at $70.

Show Mom just how important she is! Mother’s Day only comes around once a yea, so make it count. Austin has options for any taste or budget.

Fans of architecture, exterior and interior design and décor will see the makeup of downtown with historic buildings like the 1882 Graeber house renovated into a 4,600 sq. ft. urban home by the late, renowned architect David Graeber, juxtaposed with newer builds like The Milago Condominiums on Lady Bird Lake, and The Railyard Condominiums. Get inspired by the use of space and experience city living!

Graeber House

Offering a glimpse into downtown, a wide variety of stops are on The Tour for the 8^th incarnation including:

The Buttrey Building: 107 W. 6^th Street
The Graeber Residence: 410 E. 6^th Street (Architect David Graeber)
The 5FiftyFive: 555 E. 5th Street, Unit 2729
360 Condominiums: 360 Nueces Street
604 West 11^th Street
The Railyard Condominiums: 4^th Street between Brazos and Trinity Street
The Milago Condominiums: 54 Rainey Street, Penthouse 08
The Towers of Town Lake: 40 N I-35
The Shore Condominiums: 603 Davis Street
Residences at the W Austin: 200 Lavaca Street

*Stops for sale on the market are subject to change

For tour-goers who wish to take it up a notch and gain access to exclusive stops, the VIP package includes:

Four Seasons Residences: 98 San Jacinto Boulevard
The Speaker’s Apartment at The Capitol
The Austin Woman’s Club: 710 San Antonio Street
The Austonian: 200 Congress Avenue
Plus, VIP After Party at Bar Louie: 123 W. 6^th Street (Drinks, appetizers and live music included with VIP ticket)

General Admission Tickets are $25. General Admission + VIP After Party at Bar Louie are $40. VIP Package (including exclusive stops + After Party) is $75. *Early Bird Prices listed here are valid until April 20. Click here for tickets and more information.

Will call will be located at The Buttrey Building. Tour-goers are encouraged to walk, bike, pedicab or take CapMetro to visit the properties in any order, on the self-guided tour. A portion of proceeds from The Downtown Living Tour will benefit the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM).

The 8^th Annual Downtown Living Tour is presented by The Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA), an organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for those who live, work and play downtown. DANA influences decisions that affect downtown, educates and listens to residents and stakeholders about downtown and issues that affect them, and fosters a downtown community through social events.

The W Austin

Jade Mathews, Sonya Cote, Mickie Spencer & Greg Mathews

Restaurant and novelty grocer all rolled into one, Hillside Farmacy‘s outdoor patio is one of our favorite places to enjoy the wonderful spring weather and savor the local produce. All of the bakery and dry goods come from Texas companies, with the exception of the Stumptown organic direct-trade coffee, which is roasted in Portland. The bakery case alone is well worth the stop, stocked with an amazing assortment of confectionery delights from local favorites like Luxe Sweets, Fat Belly Bakery, Cake & Spoon, Moonlight Bakery, Swedish Hill Bakery, Rockstar Bagels and Cake Mix. The miniature apple pie from Pie Fixes Everything beg to be taken home even after a long lunch!

Hillside Farmacy creates amazing dishes with their attention to all of the local farms in the surrounding area. Rockdale’s Richardson Farms supply the pork used by the restaurant’s in-house charcuterie. Chicken, rabbit, and duck all come from Countryside Farms. Springdale Farm supplies produce and the eggs come from Hausbar Farms. You can taste what’s fresh and what’s in season in every bite.

Besides the incredible assortment of meats and produce, Hillside Farmacy also delivers some dynamite oysters on the half shell. Choose from smaller, creamier West coast oysters, the brinier East coast, or stay true to Texas with Gulf oysters.

While many sandwiches can be underwhelming, Hillside’s sandwiches are a revelation. The “Forager” was a favorite, combining roasted mushrooms, carmelized onions, brie and truffle oil. What a delight!

Snapper Ceviche

Also look out for their daily specials. Shown above is a wild snapper ceviche with Springdale Farm cilantro and mint with a Texas grapefruit. With their dedication to freshness, this same snapper was swimming in the sea just a day before becoming ceviche. For veggie lovers, Hillside Farmacy recently served a vegetarian beet tartare with East Austin mulberries, orange supremes, red sea salt, and truffle honey.

The restaurant stays open from 7 am to midnight, making this both a great breakfast and late night spot. If you’re not overly hungry, several menu items are available a la carte. One could easily come just for the drinks. Hillside Farmacy features a variety of expertly mixed drinks with champagne or liquor.

Signature drinks include a wasabi bloody mary, cucumber mojito, grapefruit jalapeño margarita ,and pick-me-up fizz – a tasty conbination of cava, St. Germaine, and orange bitters. Some top-notch beers and wine appear on the menu as well, with favorites like Stash IPA and 2010 Mohua sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. Besides reds and whites, Hillside Farmacy offers cava, champagne, and rosé.

We eagerly await their homemade fountain sodas with seasonal flavors – like lily, which consist of lavender, blueberries, lemon balm, and rosemary. You can also add on a shot of liquor or a scoop of ice cream to really put these sodas over the top.

Owners of Brooklyn’s El Diablo Tacos, Greg and Jade Matthews, teamed up with Eastside Showroom owner Mickie Spencer and Chef Sonya Cote to bring Hillside Farmacy together. The building itself has an interesting history. Located at 1209 East 11th Street, this building was originally the pharmacy of Doc Young, the first African American pharmacist in Austin dating back to 1920. To complete the look, Spencer and the Matthews found beautiful pharmacy cabinets in Elgin, Texas just east of Austin. These wonderful cabinets truly complement the building’s rich history.

Get a true taste of Austin history and produce with your next stop at Hillside Farmacy. Perfect for drinks, gifts, a full meal or a la carte, this lovely restaurant and retailer will not leave you disapointed.

Art festival meets block party in Art Alliance‘s oldest festival, Art City Austin. Bring friends and family to this cultural event that includes art, local food vendors, live music, and activities in one of the most beautiful spots in all of downtown Austin.

Invigorating the streets, plazas, and open spaces with art of all kinds, Cesar Chavez Street and the 2ND Street District will host this one-of-a-kind, weekend-long cultural celebration. Part art festival, part block party, Art City Austin features nationally recognized artists, local food and musicians, kids’ activities, and art installations that bring the community together to enjoy great art for the entire family smack dab in the middle of downtown Austin.

Art City Austin will transform Cesar Chavez St., the S. 1st Street bridge, and the 2ND Street District surrounding Austin City Hall into a car-free hub for the two-day festival and community-wide celebration.  Activating streets by opening them to people and creating an environment of culture and fun is central to the mission of Art Alliance Austin.

The festival will take place on Saturday, April 14 from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, April 15 from 11 am to 6 pm. Admission for adults consists of an $8 contribution at the gate, and is free for kids 12 and under.  Art City Austin encourages attendees to explore the city and walk, bike, or park and ride to the festival, and admission is free  if you park your bike at the Mellow Johnny’s Bike Valet at 1st Street Bridge and Lavaca at 2nd, or show your Capital Metro Pass.

If you want to volunteer, juts work for three hours and you get in free to enjoy art, live music, and more before or after your shift!

Or, treat yourself to the full VIP experience and celebrate in style in the Collector’s Lounge. From the mezzanine of Austin City Hall overlooking Lady Bird Lake, enjoy complimentary bites by Cain’s Fine Catering and sip cocktails from the open bar. The Collector’s Lounge will also host a series of meet & greet events with artists, musicians and other VIPs throughout the weekend. Collector’s will also enjoy complimentary beer, wine, and margaritas at the beverage bars located on the festival grounds.

The festival takes place at Cesar Chavez Street at Austin City Hall with entrances on the Guadalupe and First Street Bridge. Take advantage of free parking and shuttle service from MLK and Congress Avenue.

Fun, whimsy, and excitement are paramount to this decades old festival. A cultural phenomenon with a contemporary twist, Art City Austin is Austin at its finest.

With all of the recent rain, we can expect Easter in Austin to be especially gorgeous. There are so many fabulous options for Easter brunch and Easter egg hunts, and we recommend you and your family get out and enjoy the holiday!

For instance, just on the shores of Lake Travis, Lakeway Resort and Spa will host Easter Sunday featuring Chef Axline’s brunch, panoramic lakeside views, a family-friendly petting zoo, and  even a special visit from the Easter Bunny. Easter brunch will be held in the beautiful glass-enclosed Vistas Ballroom overlooking the lake from 10 am to 3 pm.

An assortment of cold dishes such as couscous salad, smoked Pacific Northwest salmon with crispy baguette and capers, poached shrimp cocktail and a cheese board with imported and domestic cheese will be presented as well as hot dishes. Some of the highlights include grilled gulf cobia, jalapeno and cheddar mashed potatoes, roasted leg of lamb with house made mint jelly, roasted pork loin, blue cheese and bacon mac & cheese, and rigatoni pasta with braised pork shoulder.

Chef Axline will also be providing breakfast choices made up by an omelet and egg station with assorted condiments, maple cider cured ham, oven-roasted breakfast potatoes, apple smoked bacon, chicken sausage and blueberry-stuffed French toast with a blueberry compote and true maple syrup.

The spread is not without desserts, including peach cobbler, Snickers bread pudding, carrot cake with cream cheese icing, double chocolate cupcakes, sticky orange and almond cakes, and strawberry cream pies. Click here to view the full menu.

Easter brunch will be $55 plus tax and gratuity per adult and $20 for children ages 3 – 12. For reservations please call 512-261-7379, or you can make reservations online. The resort will offer a Golden Egg giveaway contest to guests where they will select five rooms at random to place a golden egg.  Each golden egg will have prizes ranging from a complimentary night stay to Easter brunch. Room rates for Easter weekend start at $179 (plus tax and gratuity).

Even if you can’t make it out to the lake, there are plenty of choices downtown. If you want to something casual, hop on over to J. Black’s Easter Brunch on West Sixth Street. There will be drink specials including $2 mimosas, $3 screwdrivers, $5 Bloody Mary bar, $5 VeeV Acai Spirit Cocktails served alongside J. Black’s famous brunch items like the breakfast pizza and crab Florentine. Activities like an egg hunt and egg dying will be held. Bunny suits are encouraged.

Choose from Fleming’s downtown or Domain location to indulge in their annual Easter brunch. Both locations will open early at 11:30 am to welcome you. A special three-course children’s brunch menu will also be offered for $16.95. A blood-orange fizz cocktail will be on special for $6.95 with their three-course brunch.

The W Hotel’s Trace is serving Easter brunch from 10:30 to4 pm. The three-course prix-fixe menu offers a variety of delicious dishes perfect for a relaxing Easter Sunday.This Easter menu runs $55 per person and includes a glass of sparkling with the meal. The kids’ menu offers a variety of à la carte items for children 12 years old and under. Easter brunch at Trace is served up with a side of live music on the patio from 11am-2pm.

The Durdens will be performing at Stubb’s BBQ for their gospel brunch. Ancho’s restaurant at the Omni will have both a lavish omelet and dessert display.

At the Domain, Urban an American Grill will have a brunch buffet for children and adults alike. Adults will enjoy the music from a live jazz trio while their youngsters meet the elusive Easter Bunny and hunt for eggs in the pool area.

Chez Zee will celebrate the entire weekend of Easter with visits from the Easter bunny during both Saturday and Sunday brunch. Face painting, magic, balloons and Glitter Girl will all be on hand. Enjoy a buffet, Easter specials or the regular menu. And if you weren’t stuffed by brunch, Chez Zee is even having an Easter dinner service from 4 to 10 pm.

Lastly, Chef Gabriel Pellegrini of Sagra will be hosting one egg-cellent Easter brunch. Gather family and friends to enjoy some of Chef Pellegrini’s most signature spring dishes. Brunch runs $24 for adults, $12 for under 12 and free for young ones under age three. For $8 you can have bottomless mimosas or Bloody Mary bar along with your meal.

Don’t miss out on all of these fantastic Easter specials!

At the end of last month, the folks at milk + honey hosted a grand celebration to welcome the latest addition to their family – SALON by milk + honey at their new Arboretum Market location. The impressive turnout – around 350 people turned up throughout the course of the evening – is a testament to the loyal clientele that milk + honey has garnered in its 5 years of existence, an ever-expanding base that has necessitated the opening of their new location, the salon’s third in Austin.

milk + honey has grown up under the loving care of founder Alissa Bayer and her husband, Shon Bayer. Beginning as a five treatment room spa in the downtown 2nd Street District in 2006, the brand expanded to a second location with its spa at the Hill Country Galleria 2008. Soon, SALON by milk+honey was launched with its first location downtown, and a second salon was nestled up against the spa in the Hill Country Galleria a few years after that.

The husband and wife team, who now have one-year-old-twins at home, certainly keep themselves busy. Through their nurturing, milk+honey made its way onto Elle‘s America’s Top 100 Salons, and they took home the award for Best Salon – Industry Choice at the Austin Fashion Awards.

We had a chance to chat with Shon about the new Arboretum Hill location, what it’s like working side-by-side with his wife, and his hopes for future milk + honey growth.

How did you and Alissa come to form this partnership working together on milk + honey?

My wife was really the driving force behind milk + honey, and she still is. I joined full time about a year and a half ago, which was just after the time we found out we were having twins. I left my job at a tech company, and I now do a little more of the marketing and operations things, and Alissa provides the vision, leadership and strategy for where milk + honey is going.

How’s it been working with your wife?

It’s great! We get along really well, we generally see eye-to-eye on everything,  and it’s very harmonious in the way we work together. We tend to divide and conquer a lot, so we’re not always next to each other in the same room, but we try to be as efficient as possible. Back when I was at my last job, it was a pretty demanding sixty to seventy hour a week job, and I couldn’t imagine going back to that at this point because I enjoy working with her so much.

What sets milk + honey apart from other salons and spas?

You know, we’ve gotten lots of accolades, but the award we’re most proud of is that we’ve been listed in Austin Business Journal among the Best Place to Work in Central Texas for last three years running. To us, that’s the heart of what makes us a little bit different than other places. We’ve really tried to focus on creating a great work environment for our employees – we offer health insurance, paid vacation, and education reimbursement for our licensed employees. We do very regular performance reviews, and we try to create an environment where people have the opportunity to grow and develop. We don’t want people to come and feel like it’s the same old thing every day. We think the essence is that if we have great employees who are happy in their jobs, we will have happy clients who keep coming in.

Talk to me a bit about the new Arboretum Market location!

This is the first space where we got to design it from the ground up. Our downtown location was a salon that had been opened for 9 months before it was closed down. The Galleria location was a very small makeup store that also went out of business. With this one, we got to form a vision from an empty space, and we’re really happy with how the design worked out. We’re thinking there may be an opportunity to have one or two more free-standing salons in Austin, and this would be the template for that.

What do you see happening with milk + honey in the future?

Despite having one-year-old twins at home, we’ve been talking a lot about the future. We’re currently looking at a couple projects in Houston, which we see as next place for us to expand. There are already as many as six or seven thousand Houston addresses in our database, so we think it might be a good fit.

Beyond that, we would love to have milk + honey around the country. There really aren’t that many high-end spas or salons where you know you can go from city to city and have the same rewarding experiences.  A lot of multi unit spas and salons are franchises, so you’re rolling the dice that you’ll have the same experience going from one city to another. But that’s essential, when you’re trusting someone with your hair or want to relax and get a facial. In five to ten years, we hope there are twenty milk + honey locations around the country.

The most important thing is that we look at our home in Austin as being our base, a city that’s been really great to us. I think people here in Austin really appreciate home-grown success stories, and the most important thing for us is that we continue to provide a great experience in Austin, because this is our home. We don’t want to expand so quickly that we dilute our management talent and culture, which is very important to our success.

Now that you’re opening your third location, how big is the milk + honey client base?

This year, we’ll probably be approaching our hundred thousandth distinct customer. But we’re not keeping score. What’s been such a privilege is that, three or four years ago, we spent a lot of effort and money courting new people, and we had a lot of success getting people in the door. Now, we focus almost all our marketing efforts in providing incentives for people to be repeat customers. If you think about the typical discount for salons or spas, they’re for first-time customers. Eighty percent of our discounts are for repeat customers. We have a program that is like a frequent flier program, and you get rewarded for continuing services, buying a product or referring a friend. It’s exciting for us making sure clients keep choosing milk + honey. That’s very essential to our success.

When you’re not working on milk + honey, what are some of Alissa and your favorite things to do around Austin?

Probably the leisure activity we do the most is cook.  I love to cook, so we’re really big into food and wine. We get together with my sister and brother-in-law every Sunday night, and go all out making crazy dinners.  Also, we spend a lot of time with the kids running walking around Town Lake and various trails in Austin. I’m a pretty big runner, so it’s been great being able to push a double stroller with kids. They tend to really like it  – or at the very least fall asleep!

In case you haven’t heard about Austin’s most-talked about natural soup, Holy Posole, now is your chance to learn more about it and support a local product. This ancient soup, known for its healing properties, is quickly gaining popularity with more and more stores stocking it on their shelves.

For those of you who don’t know what posole is, its roots come from Texas and New Mexico. A combination of Hatch green chiles, Chimayo red chile, tomatoes, hominy, garlic and other spices, including chicken, flavoring create a soup that people say “tastes like home.”

I had a wonderful opp0rtunity to chat with Holy Posole creator, Sharon Ely, and ask her a few questions about her amazing soup.

Emil, Sharon, and Gary at HEB with Holy Posole

Q: What first inspired you to start making posole?

A: The first time I made Holy Posole was after tasting it in Santa Fe, New Mexico at my friend’s house, after my husband and I had driven 14 hours to get to a wedding on time. We were exhausted when we arrived, and my friend had made this wonderful soup from an ancient recipe that a hundred-year-old lady had given her.The taste of this magical soup made us feel so warm, comforted, happy and energized, that I decided from then on I, too, was going to make posole. After more than thirty years of making this delicious soup, I have finally decided to sell my soup in jars and give it the wonderful name of Holy Posole. It is such a healing soup for anything you may have.

Q: Without giving away the recipe, are there any special ingredients that you use?

A: Yes, I use very special spices from the region where I first tasted the soup. I use Chimayo red chile, which comes  from a little town near Santa Fe . I also use Hatch green chiles from another region in New Mexico that are very high in nutrients and vitamin C. We use as many natural ingredients as we can, including the natural chicken broth with low sodium. I have worked very hard to make this soup as naturally good for all of us as possible, and to use the best ingredients from Texas and New Mexico. Everyone that makes posole has their own special recipe which makes it their own. I, too, have evolved an ancient recipe to make it my very own so that many people may enjoy this wonderful healing soup.

Q: The name is so creative, is there a story behind it?

A: The name I give Holy Posole is simple. I love the way it rhymes. I also love it because this soup is made with Chimayo chile, which adds to the flavor and healing power of the soup. I feel that it may very well be a sacred soup, and is appropriately named Holy Posole for that reason. Chimayo is very well known for its little ancient church that has healing dirt all around it. Since the chile we use is from this region, I believe it could also make our soup healing.

Q: With Holy Posole becoming so popular, has it been difficult to keep up with the demand?

A: There is never enough Holy Posole. We always run out. I am constantly asking the factory to make more Holy Posole. Right after New Year’s 2012, we got an order for three truckloads of Holy Posole to be delivered to HEB. We continue to get orders every week. So yes, we are continually surprised by how many orders we are getting, and thus trying to make more posole. Actually, for 30 years this has always been the case. No matter how big a pot of posole we make, we always run out and people are always saying, “where’s the posole?”

Q: Where in Austin can you purchase Holy Posole?

A: You can purchase Holy Posole at 49 HEB grocery stores that have the Kitchen Connections in their store. I have a list on my website, holyposole.net. Also you may find my Holy Posole at Fresh Plus on West Lynn in Austin, Texas. Amazon also carries my soup online for people not living near an HEB grocery store or in Texas.

Q: Do you see Holy Posole expanding beyond Texas?

A: Oh yes, I see Holy Posole being served all over the world. My soup  spreads peace and harmony and comfort and it will allow people all over to world to enjoy this feeling. It is all I can think of to help the world right now, make soup to help us all heal from whatever problems we may have. I would love to provide soup for all the hungry people that may need food.

Q: Would you ever consider selling another natural soup besides posole?

A: Right now we are manufacturing two new natural soups….a Verde Holy Posole and a tortilla soup with hominy. I also have a habenero sauce we are finalizing this week. All of these products are all natural and very tasty. Harmony through hominy and peace through posole!

Check out local HEB’s and Fresh Plus on West Lynn to try out Sharon Ely’s famous Holy Posole, while supplies last. You can also stay up to date with what’s happening with Holy Posole by visiting their blog or Facebook page.

Support a local product and unlock the healing powers of the Chimayo chile with your purchase. Besides tasting great, this natural soup has restorative powers and is made with love. Keep in mind, this also makes a great gift to those not familliar with regional Texas and New Mexico cuisine!

Citizen Generation’s Second Annual Charity Bash and Masquerade Ball will be held Saturday, February 18 benefitting Capital Area Food Bank. The Winter Wonderland will include an open bar, food, entertainment, and art from Generous Art which donates 40% of each piece of art to nonprofits.

The dress code is black tie. Early ticket purchasers will be charged $80 or $150 per couple. Otherwise, the event is $100 per person at the door. VIP bottle service packages are available by emailing info@citizengeneration.org. Click here to purchase tickets.

The artists from Generous Art have also been making headlines. Six Generous Artists were filmed by KLRU during E.A.S.T.  TREND magazine featured Jennifer Chenoweth’s Heaven and Hell piece from the two-part show Hell and Heaven in Santa Fe. ART LIES magazine recently reviewed Virginia Fleck’s 2011 solo exhibition CONSUMED at the Holly Johnson Gallery in Dallas, Texas.

"CO2 Mandala" by Virginia Fleck; plastic bags and tape; 60" in diamter; courtesy of the artist and Holly Johnson Gallery, Dallas

Carol Haymen was selected as one of the ten winning artists of the Austin Art Board’s competition. Lastly, Southwest Art named Generous Artist Kerry Schroeder as their “Arist to Watch” in the November 2011 issue.

In 2011, the combined total donated to charity was $124,390. Generous Art has grown to represent 23 artists and 30 nonprofits in Austin.

Generous Art and Artists will be featured on an upcoming episode of Arts in Context on KLRU airing Thursday, Fenruary 23 at 7:30 pm. Generous Art will have a viewing party.

If you would like to help a Generous Artist raise money to attend a residency at the Vermont Studio Center in March, you can visit Emily Moore’s studio sale online. Additionally, a live event will be held February 5 at Texas French Bread at 2900 Rio Grande from 3 to 7 pm with refreshments provided.

"Home" by Emily Moore; monoprint and watercolor on paper; 10"x6.25"; $100 unframed

If you would like to see more work by the Generous Artists, many have their work on view in Austin. The 2012 People’s Gallery Exhibit at Austin City Hall will feature the work of Jennifer Chenoweth, Larry Graeber, Renee Nunez, and Sydney Yeager. Chenoweth will show her hanging steel sculpture titled Heaven and Hell. Renee will show her work titled Inertial Haze which consists of a reclaimed materials wall installation. She will also show Octofloss, a 7 foot cut canvas painting. The opening reception will be held Friday, February 24 from 6 to 9 pm.

Carolyn Kimball is a part of the upcoming Women Printmakers of Austin show. The juried Monoprint/Monotype Exhibit will take place at the Gallery at the J in Austin, Texas through February 28.

Two of Sydney Yeager’s paintings hang in the restaurant and bar of the W Hotel as a part of their collection. See them at 200 Lavaca St. in downtown Austin.

With Austin’s art scene taking off, these are great oppurtunities to see some of these masterpieces live in person.

Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail

Whether your New Year’s resolutions involve getting active, eating right, de-cluttering, guilt-free shopping, or saving a little money, we’ve got you covered with a few ideas and mentions to kick off 2012. Many larger gyms around town are also offering membership savings for the new year as well.

Sometimes even just changing up your normal workout routine can give you more results.  The Bar Method Austin on West Fifth Street creates a sculpts bodies and elongates muscles by blending isometrics, dance conditioning, and physical therapy. Ask about their new client special.

One of Austin’s favorite green trainers, urban animal, has recently merged with Dynamax Training to incorporate medicine balls into their workouts. Partner-based Velocity Boot Camp offers fast-paced workouts with killer results. For the duration of a month, Phase Ten Training will use a scaled sequence of programs, drills, and medicine ball work. Both classes are offered at multiple locations.

Another local favorite, with it’s donation-based classes, Black Swan Yoga features heated yoga with their Sweaty Yoga and more advanced Power Yoga. Don’t worry, beginners can still take Vinyasa classes. Bring your own mat or rent one for a $2 donation. You might want to bring a towel as well if you take a heater class!

Remember, you can always get in shape on a budget. Take a stroll, jog, run, or bike ride around Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail featured above. There are 3, 4.5, 5, 7, and 10.3 mile loops that span the picturesque Barton Creek area to Austin’s downtown, all surrounding the lake. Just gorgeous!

Another free way to work out is just by cleaning up! Try de-cluttering and some other housework to burn up to an extra 170 calories on average.

For many people, eating right with little time or while on the go can be tough. Ditch the fast food and opt for some nutritionally balanced take-out from My Fit Foods, Mel’s Meals, or Snap Kitchen. Click for locations and ask about vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Many offer delivery options as well.

For tons of delivery options, check out Greenling for local food and organic products from Central Texas. Save money, gas, and time with their free delivery. You can even get a profile of all of their farmers.

Engage in some guilt-free shopping with new fair-trade accessory line from Ghana, Della. Della helps empower a team of women through education, jobs, and skills training. Instead of buying from China, they use 100% West African textiles to make unique prints that stimulate the local economy. All items are signed by the women that made it.

Saving money can also help out in the new year. Find a large jar or container and start putting your spare change away. Don’t be afraid to put a few bills in there. The reward will be taking it to the bank once it fills up.

They say time is money, but sometimes spending a little extra time to look for deals and coupons means not spending a little extra money. If you’re not in a hurry, take your time at the store and peruse the coupon section.

Start the new year right - it’s never too late to make a change! Happy 2012!