Art on the Green is an outdoor installation, a social event for all ages, and a new type of art experience. Austin artists, architects, and landscape architects designed the ten interactive, miniature golf holes, which range from playful to smart, humorous to sophisticated. Visitors can play the nine-hole course while exploring Laguna Gloria’s formal and picturesque grounds and outdoor sculptures. A bonus tenth hole encourages play in the downtown lobby of the Jones Center.

Art on the Green Exhibit at Laguna Gloria

The Texas Prize recognizes innovation, talent, and a marked contribution to a thriving Texas artistic community.  A diverse group of Texas-based professionals nominates several contemporary artists. A separate international jury of artists, curators, and scholars then selects three finalists for an exhibition and full-color catalogue. One finalist receives a $30,000 prize — the most significant ongoing initiative supporting emerging and under-recognized professional artists working in the state.

2012 Texas Prize Finalists:

Jamal Cyrus is a mixed media artist whose work addresses revisionist history, radical politics, and the various uses of sound throughout the African Diaspora. (Houston)

Will Henry’s paintings combine austere West Texas landscapes with Minimalist art to achieve mysterious effects and dry humor. (Houston)

Jeff Williams uses natural phenomena and industrial materials to create site-specific sculptural works that intervene in a structures architecture. (Austin)

On Friday, May 18, visitors to Laguna Gloria will be able to play the Art on the Green course for a discounted price of $4 adults/$2 children for non-members, and $2 adults/ $1 children for members. Also on view at Laguna Gloria during this time are Collection Selections: The Barrett Collection in the Driscoll Villa, and the perennial Seeing Special Things Student Art Exhibition in the Gatehouse Gallery. At the Jones Center, the aforementioned Texas Prize is on view, in addition to Amie Siegel’s exhibition Black Moon, plus Julia Oschatz’ film Odds and Ends: Venus, and Ezra Wube’s Amora on the Congress Avenue screen.

In recognition of the important role museums play in their communities, AMOA-Arthouse invites visitors to share their museum experiences during Art Museum Day on a special printed form (available at both locations, and via social media) with the hashtag #ArtMuseumDay in a collective public response. Participation in the international event highlights the value of the visual arts in society, and provides new opportunities for audiences to participate in wide-ranging programs and record their encounters with works of art.

"A Burning Man" by Will Henry, part of the Texas Prize display at the Jones Center

“With our recent merger behind us, we are extraordinarily pleased to be invited to participate in this international event,” said Jack Nokes, interim executive director of AMOA-Arthouse. “By showcasing our two architecturally-significant locations on this special day, our hope is that more people from across Central Texas will become familiar with the museum, our exhibitions, public programs, and education initiatives…whether that be through viewing the work of our three Texas Prize finalists at the Jones Center, or spending an afternoon playing our phenomenally-successful miniature golf exhibition, Art on the Green, at Laguna Gloria.”

In 2011, more than 100 other museums across North America participated in International Museum Day.

Art Bra Austin is a tribute to the fighting spirit of breast cancer survivors. Clad in eclectic art bras, breast cancer survivors strut their stuff down the runway to raise funds and awareness for the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas (BCRC). One-of-a-kind live and silent auction packages, including several art bras, are second in allure only to the models themselves. The evening promises to be as funky, fierce and feminine as the breast cancer survivors it serves.

Austin Music Hall will play home to this year’s event, which is set to take place on Saturday, May 19 from 7pm – 11pm. Attendees will enjoy live music by Audioroad and Cover Girls, and delicious treats from Cover 3, J. Black’s, Olive & June, Opal Divine’s, Moonshine, NXNW, NoRTH and Vivo. Ticket information is available here. All proceeds remain in the community to support the 2,600 clients BCRC serves annually throughout the 10-country service area.

A distinguished panel of art and fashion professionals – Gail Chovan, Dean Fredrick, and Daryl Howard – will jury this year entries. Take a peek at some of this year’s inspiration!

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.

Pachanga is a Latin-themed music, cultural arts and food festival dedicated to showcasing the vibrant blend of Latino-created music and art along with the impact it has on American culture today. In Spanish, its translation is literally “a lively party,” and that’s exactly what it is.

The Pachanga Festival — voted “Best of the Fests” by the Austin Chronicle – is Austin’s first Latin-themed music, arts and food festival and has closed out Austin Latino Music Month every May for the past 4 years. In its 5^rd year, Pachanga is destined for success.

This year’s festival features 4 stages and over 20 acts from around the world, including Calle 13, Los Lonely Boys, Peligrosa, Chingo Bling, Ana Tijoux, and La Santa Cecilia. The music kicks off on Friday evening at 6:30pm at Fiesta Gardens. It will end on Friday evening around 10:30, and run all all day on Saturday from 1pm to 10:30pm.

Tickets, including single day, two-day passes, and VIP passes,  can be purchased online here. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. A portion of all proceeds will benefit the FuturoFund Austin, a collective effort to engage the community through philanthropy and leadership.

Check out the full line-up below!

2012 Pachanga Artists

Friday, May 11th

Calle 13 
Chingo Bling 
Peligrosa
Outernational

Saturday, May 12th

Los Lonely Boys
Chico Trujillo
Alejandro Escovedo
Ana Tijoux
Girl In A Coma
Brownout
Forro in The Dark
Ruben Ramos & The Mexican Revolution
La Santa Cecilia
Davíd Garza
Gustavo Galindo
Outernational
GOBI
Patricia Vonne
Maneja Beto
Umano Ache
El Dusty
POLITICS
Los Bandidos Cosmicos
Anthropos Musicians Collective

Photo Credit: Suzanne Pressman

Four studios and fifteen artists will be showcased in the ninth annual Art of the Pot Austin Ceramic Studio Tour and Sale this Mother’s Day weekend. Join Austin potters Chris Campbell, Keith Kreeger, Ryan McKerley, Lisa Orr and Claudia Reese as they open up their studios for you to enjoy the art of pottery. The tour is free and open to the public, and runs on Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

 Art of the Pot is a collective of Austin-based potters committed to expanding the reach of contemporary studio pottery through studio tours, public lectures and gallery exhibitions.  Each year, Art of the Pot brings some of the top ceramic artists in the country to Austin for the invitational pottery show.

“We’re thrilled to have such high caliber artists in our lineup again this year,” says Kreeger. “The tour has grown in scale and stature in Austin and across the country. Visitors will see the limitless possibilities of our medium in the wide range of work on view.” The ten nationally recognized guest artists come from as far away as New York, California, Maine, North Carolina, Washington state, Missouri and Pennsylvania

Photo Credit: Suzanne Pressman

The tours are complete with eats and drinks. Saturday’s tour kicks off with food from Snack Bar on South Congress and coffee at Lisa Orr studio, and the day ends with “Tacos, Shots & Pots” at Keith Kreeger studio. Sunday’s tour will feature brunch fare at Claudia Reese studio, and pizza from East Side Pies at Ryan McKerley/Chris Campbell studio.

Prior to the weekend’s tour, Art of the Pot is offering you the opportunity to go behind the scenes with some of their artists with a Free Ceramics Workshop on Thursday, May 10, 12-4pm at the Dougherty Arts Center. Guest artists Deb Schwartzkopf (WA), Gwendolyn Yoppolo (NC) and Michael Kline will (NC) will discuss and demonstrate their creative approaches and technical knowledge.

A special  VIP Collector’s Preview Tour will be held on Friday, May 11, 6-9pm. Private bus tour, with cocktails and refreshments at each studio. VIP tickets are $45 and can be purchased here.

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.

To launch their new supper club, fresh and seasonal Royal Fig Catering will be hosting an Artisan Dinner Series in their beautiful new Harvest Room. Austin’s favorite cheese shop, Antonelli’s, will be part of the debut dinner, along with Chef Dan Stacy, fresh off the successful launch of Royal Fig’s mobile venture The Seedling Truck.

The first Artisan Dinner will feature five cheesy courses that will highlight Chef Dan Stacy’s culinary attention to detail, quality and artistry as he showcases a selection of Antonelli’s artisanal cheeses. The meal will also include a cheese commentary by Cheese-monger Paul Kiry.

At Antonelli’s, an artisanal is described as “cheese that’s been touched by hands.” While a “farmstead cheese” is one that is made on a farm that also cares for its own animals, often meaning that the same group of folks who take care of the animals also make the cheese and that the milk doesn’t have to travel far or sit long before being made into cheese.

While the lines can get blurry between artisanal and industrial cheese, Antonelli’s distinctly chooses to focus primarily on artisanal cheese. These cheeses have taken a good deal of human labor to create and can be traced to cheesemakers and the milk source.

Cheese-monger and Wholesale Manager Paul Kiry will talk about the selections and pairings throughout the service. This event is open to the public and is B.Y.O.B. Diners are encouraged to bring their favorite wines, brews, or other beverages to complement the meal.

The Harvest Room has a warmly rich yet rustic atmosphere, and with a capacity of about 40 will serve as a versatile space not only for Royal Fig’s multi-series supper club, but also rehearsal dinners, showers, corporate events and functions of all kinds.

The Artisan Dinner featuring Antonelli’s will begin Sunday, April 29th at 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased for $65 each by contacting Harvest Room Manager Jerod Hruska by phone at 739-3233 or email him at jerod@royalfig.com  Due to limited seating, please include the number in the party and secure with a credit card number and expiration date.

Royal Fig prides itself in its use of fresh, seasonal ingredients that come from organic farms throughout central Texas. Each menu is created with seasonality in mind, so that guests will be eating food at the peak of freshness.

Royal Fig is dedicated to providing full service catering with outstanding customer service and attention to every detail. They cater many types of events from the very formal to the relaxed and casual.

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.