There’s nothing like the feel of college football in Austin, especially near the University of Texas campus. The excitement, the sea of burnt orange, even the smell is hard is a hard to describe but distinct mix of BBQ and beer. If you’ve never been to a UT tailgate and get the chance you definitely should go, even if you don’t have tickets to the game. The atmosphere is festive and people are friendly. It’s one of those events were people of all ages and backgrounds gather to celebrate what they have in common – their love for all things UT.

However, if you’re a first timer and unprepared the whole UT tailgating experience can be a little overwhelming. Tailgates aren’t spur-of-the-moment-grab-a-six-pack at-the-corner-store-on-the way type of things.  No, these are well-planned, expertly executed events. Fans take them seriously. Many have been doing it for years and have the process and setup down to a science. They bring in grills, tents, satellites, TVs, tables, chairs and even generators. You’ll see games (cornhole, anyone?), giant inflatable mascots and just about anything you could think of. There is much preparation involved, with permits and reserved spaces required. You can’t really just show up with your stuff and claim a spot.

So if you’re a novice, it’s best to hook up with an established tailgate or someone who’s done it before. Many organizations and businesses host them, and it seems everybody has some sort of connection. But even if you don’t, never fear! You can still head down to the area and enjoy the atmosphere. You can wander from tent to tent, people-watching and making friends along the way. You’ll find that most folks are welcoming and friendly, particularly to fans decked out in UT gear.

Also, if you don’t have an established spot but still want to experience the game day action you can head to Scholz Garten, the fabled German biergarten near the stadium. It’ll be packed, but that’s part of the fun.

As with any major event downtown parking on game day can be tricky. There are some lots and garages with reasonable rates, but they fill up quickly. It’s best to carpool and get there early if possible. Another tip – if you’re just attending the tailgate for a few hours and skipping the game, you might get lucky and find parking off a nearby street, where the meters have a 3-hour limit. I’ve had success with this, assumingly because people that are going to the game avoid them knowing they’ll be there longer.

To sum it up, here are my top five tips for first-time tailgaters: 1). Go early 2) Wear burnt orange or UT gear 3) Be friendly, even to the opposing team’s fans 4) Pose for a photo with a real longhorn (you don’t get the opportunity every day) 5). Eat, drink and be merry. Oh and a bonus #6: If you did participate heavily in #5, don’t drive yourself home.

Texas fight! Hook ‘em!

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Flirty Cupcakes

Photo by: froboy

Flirty Cupcakes was inspired by a childhood love for ice cream trucks and all of the excitement that arose once the music started to play. The Chicago Red Eye listed the truck as one of the top 10 things to do in Chicago, and it was also featured on America’s Best Bites. With delicious cupcake choices like Paradise Island with pineapple rum cake and a coconut cream frosting, it will be difficult to decide. Try the Elvis Presley, which is a chocolate banana cupcake with a peanut butter buttercream frosting.

Unlike the ice cream truck, instead of chasing it down the street, you can find it by checking the schedule on their website and following them on Twitter. You can also check out their Dessert Garage (1030 W. Taylor St.).

(flirtycupcakes.com, 312-852-4441, @flirtycupcakes)

Sweet Miss Giving’s

This sweet food truck’s name is appropriate since it provides jobs for people with disabilities and a portion of proceeds helps homeless men, women and children throughout Chicago. Cupcakes, scones, brownies, bars, cookies and muffins make up the menu and flavors and varieties are always changing.

Sweet Miss Giving can be found throughout the Loop. To satisfy that sweet tooth, follow them on Twitter.

(littlemissmuffin.com, @smgfoodtruck)

Baby Cakes

Pancakes your favorite breakfast food? Well, you’re in luck because Baby Cakes makes it a gourmet delight with pancake choices like rocky road, chocolate peanut butter cup pancakes, red velvet, strawberry shortcake and pumpkin pie pancakes. There’s also savory pancakes like a Chicago-style hot dog pancake, spicy sausage and apple, chipotle chicken tamale pancakes, deep dish sausage pizza, mushroom basil gorgonzola, and chorizio and pepper pancakes.

Baby Cakes can be found anywhere from University of Chicago for breakfast to the Theatre District for lunch. Check out the schedule on their website, and follow on Twitter to find when and where they’ll be.

(www.babycakestruck.com/, 630-229-9092, @babyscaketruck

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Austin is a city of freelancers and entrepreneurs. If you work for yourself, you know that self-employment and working from home comes with its own set of challenges, like staying focused on your work while the unfolded laundry stares you in the face, and warding off loneliness when your cat refuses to make conversation. Coworking spaces in Austin are on the rise and offer a unique solution to the problems faced by mobile workers. High-speed wifi, unlimited caffeinated beverages and available meeting room space are standard at coworking spaces, in exchange for a monthly membership fee or daily drop-in rate. Some offer extra bonuses, like unique amenities or a business address for your mail. The environment is typically more focused than working from home, with the added coffee shop ambiance (but with far more comfortable seating). And of course, there’s also the opportunity to network with your fellow co-workers, many of whom are superior conversationalists to your cat.

Coworking spaces are especially popular on the East side (based on the number of options), but you’ll find great spaces in the central and South parts of town, too.

Conjunctured: Austin’s original coworking space is located in a converted house just a few blocks east of 35 on 7th street. The space is pet friendly, and the kitchen is stocked with coffee, tea, soda and snacks. The space also has private meeting rooms available for members and non-members.

Link Coworking: Located in The Village shopping center on Anderson Lane, Link Coworking is convenient for those seeking a centrally-located coworking space. Link has a modern vibe and offers concierge services in addition to the standard meeting rooms and caffeinated beverage selection. A second location is planned for South Austin.

Posh Coworking: A glam space located on North Lamar, Posh features a sunny lounge in addition to private meeting room space (also available to non-members). Posh focuses on building a community and frequently hosts workshops and events of interest to female entrepreneurs.

Perch Coworking: Close to downtown, Perch is located in a new mixed-use building on East 6th. Members are given 24/7 access to the building. For the casual co-worker, they offer a drop-in option for $25 per day.

Vuka: Nestled just off South First, Vuka features yoga classes and an art station for artistic breaks to help ease the daily grind. A tranquil backyard adds to the appeal.

Chicon Collective: Like Vuka, Chicon Collective offers some unusual amenities: a recording studio and cyc wall. The space is located at Chicon and 3rd street in East Austin.

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This week’s Photo of the Week comes to us from Clint Bliss at Landmark at Hailey Walk in Altamonte Springs, FL!

Clint has given us yet another gorgeous community photo! He managed to capture the property on a pristine day from the perfect angle. Not only are we able to see the fountain, the office, and its environs, but in one shot Clint has magically whisked us away to a romantic retreat. This image sets the tone for the property and shows us how lush and nice the property is.

While in reality this property is in Altamonte Springs, FL, the photo shows us beautiful grounds which could be located in any exotic locale. Is this Tuscany, Italy? No, it could be your next home!

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About, oh, we’ll say 10 years ago, I was a college student living in a little apartment away from home.  That year funds were tight and I decided to skip the drive home for Thanksgiving and instead stay at school and pick up some extra shifts at work.  I had a few friends who weren’t making the trip home either so I decided to have them over for what ended up being the Thanksgiving dinner I made myself.

We didn’t have fancy table linens or even matching dishes! What we did have was each other an we made a wonderful day of it.

Making your Thanksgiving table stand out doesn’t take a lot of time or money.  With a few simple touches you can set a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape without breaking the bank!

Here are some tips for a frugal but beautiful Thanksgiving Tablescape:

Skip the tablecloth and placemats in lieu of a simple runner.  Burlap is all the rage right now and this simple burlap table runner adds texture to the table without the cost of larger linens.

Use all white plates.  Basic white plates are a great investment because they can be dressed up for any occasion.  Many retailers offer caterers sets at low cost and most dollar stores carry them as well.

Bring in pattern with your napkins.  Look for inexpensive patterned napkins.  You could even use high quality paper napkins! If you can sew, making your own is as easy as a hem stitch around a fabric square!

Let your food be the star and go simple with your table centerpiece.  A bouquet of matching stems makes a statement without costing a fortune.

If you’re in the mood for DIY you can create these simple pumpkin votive holders for less than $10 and easy to do in a small space (like an apartment!) Simply use a 1.5″ paddle drill bit and a cordless drill to cut a hole in your miniature pumpkins (after snipping off the stem!), scoop out the inside and add a votive!

Here is a video I made showing how easy it is to drill a hole in the pumpkin.

Lastly, think outside of the box and add extra touches from the produce aisle.  A mini pumpkin or spring of rosemary adds and elegant touch to your place setting without costing a lot of money or taking a lot of time to create.

For more apartment and renter friendly ideas for your home be sure to check out Apartments.com Renter Resources

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Seattle offers a number of artistic, scientific, cultural, and historical museums with extraordinary exhibits and displays. Museums provide a glimpse into a city’s community, and communicate its cultural landscape to visitors and residents alike. Most of the museums are located in downtown Seattle with a few scattered throughout Tacoma and Puget Sound areas. Whether you’re a local artist, a museum enthusiast, or just want to plan a fun and educational outing with family and friends, Seattle is a championing city for museum activities.

Photo: Museum of Flight, Wikipedia Commons

Take a stroll through Seattle’s finest museums. Here are my top five:

The Seattle Art Museum is an internationally renowned museum with three neighboring venues. It is one of most popular Seattle tourist attractions. The artistic institution hosts a diverse range of public events, exhibitions, films, and performances. The venue located in downtown Seattle offers its visitors free days which include first Thursdays of the month and first Fridays for seniors (age 62+).

The field of aviation continues to inspire generations, both young and old. Stop by and experience the history of flight at the prominent Museum of Flight in Seattle. The mission and purpose of the museum is to educate and exhibit the aviation artifacts for public knowledge, and to improve scientific and scholarly research. The museum has featured and permanent exhibitions available to the public with an outer space and aviation collection that has been recognized as one of the largest in the United States.

If you prefer to visit outdoor museums and be surrounded by the natural beauty of the Emerald City, make sure to check out Washington Park Arboretum. Founded in 1934, this 230 acre landscape of botanical plant collections is a pleasure to take in. Be sure to take a jaunt over to the unique Seattle Japanese Garden also situated at the Arboretum.

The variety of exhibitions at the Pacific Science Center cater to a wide audience, and are always anticipated to be a stimulating experience. Upcoming exhibitions include RACE: Are We So Different?, The Photography of Modernist Cuisine: The Exhibition, and SPY: The Secret World of Espionage. Be sure to also check out the permanent exhibitions!

Washington State Historical Museum aims to increase awareness of Washington’s historical figures and the role they played in constructing the historical and cultural significance of this influential state. As one of Seattle’s most respected museums, you can learn about the past events and people of Washington State through engaging exhibits, storytelling, public displays, and the conservation of artifacts. Don’t forget to explore its partnership venues – Capital Museum and the Research Center. 

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Southern Mac & Cheese

Photo by: seamusiv

Everyone loves mac n’ cheese. In fact, it was the topic of my recent cookbook, Mac n’ Cheese to the Rescue. So it makes perfect sense that Southern’s Executive Chef Cary Taylor puts an innovative spin on the staple, and sends it out on the road for you to indulge. While you can grab a classic mac, the rotating menu includes beefed up options like Pulled Pork with barbecue sauce, Artichoke and Spinach, Chorizo and Roasted Poblano with Pepperjack, Fried Chicken with Blue Cheese and Smoked Ham and Cheddar.

Southern Mac & Cheese Truck can usually be found throughout the Loop (Cityfront Plaza) and in Hyde Park. Like them on Facebook, and follow on Twitter for a change to indulge in the cheesy goodness.

(www.facebook.com/thesouthernmac, @thesouthernmac)

Windy City Patty Wagon

If you’re a burger buff, this is the food truck for you. You can get a basic cheeseburger or if you’re looking for something different, try the stuffed patty packed with Chihuahua cheese and topped with roasted poblano peppers and a green chile aioli that  has a kick. They’ve even got the vegetarian’s covered with a falafel burger or a veggie burger made from sweet potato, eggplant, portabella mushroom, onion, red pepper and topped with avocado kale.

To find out where they’ll be, follow them @WattyPagon.

Tamale Space Ship

What’s better than an authentic Mexican food truck? How about if the servers are donning  sombreros and wrestling masks inspired by La Luche Libre, or Mexican wrestlers? These colorful chefs are inspired by the wrestlers and determined to make authentic and nutrition Mexican food like Space Guacomole and Tamal a la Plaza, which includes roasted potato, carrots, mushrooms and a cojita cheese tamal with tomato guajillo sauce.

The Tamale Space Ship can be found throughout the Loop. Check out the schedule on their website and follow them for a taste.

(www.thetamalespaceship.com, 312-909-7009), @tamalespace101

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No wheels? Don’t worry, you’re not stuck! Austin has a few different transportation options to get you where you need to go. Even if you do have access to a car, public transportation in Austin is a great way to avoid the headache of traffic and possibly even save the Earth at the same time.

Buses

Capital Metro buses criss-cross Austin all day long. There are actually over 3,000 bus stops, so one is probably near you. Each bus stopped is equipped with a handy sign and instructions for tracking the bus on your cell phone, so you’ll know exactly when it’s due to arrive. Capital Metro also operates thirteen Park and Rides, from Leander to Manor. These are especially handy for commuters who live too far to walk to a bus stop but still want to skip the inevitable traffic jam on IH 35 during rush hour. If you’re a bicyclist, you shouldn’t have any trouble riding with your bike; each bus is equipped with bike racks on the front. The Capital Metro website also reports that there is a bike share program in the works for riders who only bike occasionally, plus there’s a new MetroRapid route coming in 2014. The Capital Metro website has fare information and a handy trip planner for you to find your route.

Metrorail

A more recent addition to Austin’s public transportation options is Metrorail. The train stops at 9 stations, starting north of the city in Leander and culminating downtown at the convention center. Each station is equipped with kiosks to purchase tickets by cash or credit card. The trains all have wi-fi, so you can stay connected while you wait to reach your destination. As with the buses, three of the metrorail stations are designated as Park and Rides (Leander, Lakeline and Howard), so there’s ample parking available if you need to drive to a station. You can also bring your bike on board the train, though the number of bike allowed on board might be limited during peak travel times. Having ridden the train on a few occasions, I have to say it’s probably the least stressful way to get around Austin. The only downside is that the trains don’t run very frequently, especially during non-rush hours. Hopefully this will change as Metrorail expands their service over the coming years.

Car2Go

Car2Go isn’t a transportation option offered by the City of Austin, but it’s worth mentioning because it provides tremendous flexibility. You do need to pay for a Car2Go membership (and maintain a valid driver’s license and car insurance, of course), but once you’re a member, you have the ability to get into any Car2Go car and drive it to your destination. It’s a good option if you only need a car occasionally, or are trying to get to a location not serviced easily by bus or train. You can even use the Car2Go website to reserve a car up to 30 minutes before you need to drive it.

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As snow starts to fall in the north, the snowbird set migrates to the south seeking some much deserved sun and relaxation. Whether you are a snowbird seeking the best place to hang your sunhat, or a retiree looking for a place to settle down more permanently, it’s important to find a destination that meets your needs. To make this process a little easier, Apartments.com evaluated cities across the county on a variety of factors key to this lifestyle, including affordable living, high population of your peers, weather and flexible leasing options. As a result, Apartments.com has revealed the 2013 “Top 10 Cities for Snowbirds and Retirees.”

Austin, Texas tops the list, making it the number one hot spot for both snowbirds waiting out winter back home and those looking for a destination to lay down their roots and enjoy retirement.

2013 Top 10 Best Cities for Snowbirds and Retirees & Average Rent for a 2 Bedroom Apartment:

1. Austin, TX: $1,204
2. Las Vegas, NV (and nearby Henderson, NV): $829 ($977)
3. Scottsdale, AZ: $1,073
4. San Antonio, TX: $979
5. Phoenix, AZ: $845
6. Dallas, TX: $1,229
7. Jacksonville, FL: $927
8. Plano, TX: $1,195
9. Overland Park, KS: $928
10. Mesa, AZ: $777

We looked at elements that make a city attractive to both a part-time residents as well as today’s retiree who is active and seeking a vibrant community with warm weather that lets them stay active. By looking at a population of peers that would offer the opportunity for friendships, the average cost of a two-bedroom apartment (so there is room for visiting family), median income as an indicator of economic health and important amenities including short-team lease options and air conditioning, our list uncovers some less-than-obvious options.

There are some surprises on the list. The fact that Overland Park, Kansas made it in indicates there are some cities with moderate climates worth considering for quality living.  It’s not all about golf and beaches. While those features make for great retirement destinations, it pays to investigate some of the less obvious cities offering affordable accommodations, great weather and a community of your peers catering to a full and exciting lifestyle.

Methodology

Apartments.com evaluated cities based on their inventory of available apartments, the average rent for a two bedroom apartment (Apartments.com, September 2013) and median income (census.gov). Cities were awarded points for having a higher median age (census.gov) and more than 60% average days of sunshine annually (ncdc.noaa.gov).  In addition, weight was given to cities with the highest concentration of apartment communities that offered short-term leases and had air conditioned units (Apartments.com, September 2013). Cities were penalized for having a higher concentration of student housing (Apartments.com, September 2013) and any city with less than 60% average days of sunshine annually was eliminated.

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Chan Marshall, the deep-voiced singer songwriter better known as Cat Power, will return to Chicago after a long absence to promote her latest album, Sun. Lucky fans eagerly await her two sold-out shows Thursday, November 21. She will perform at the Old Town School of Folk Music, a venerable venue in Lincoln Square . The North Side neighborhood has grown into a hub of Chicago culture.

Cat Power Photo Credit: last.fm

Amy’s Candy Bar Photo Credit: chicagomag.com

Before seeing the concert, fans can explore around Lincoln Square and see the many sights and sounds that make the area appealing to visitors. The neighborhood is like a small town within a city with a lot of indie shops and cafes.  There’s a farmer’s market in the summer and many places to shop. Unique stores like Amy’s Candy Bar has every kind of sweet from caramel and chocolate to Dutch licorice.

They can soak up some culture of the founding German immigrants by visiting the Dank Haus to see German films or even take classes to learn the language. For lighter entertainment, Chicagoans can go to Lincoln Square Lanes to bowl.  If fans want to get vinyl versions of Cat Power’s albums, they may find some at Laurie’s Planet of Sound. This record store has thousands of vinyl records true music collectors will love.

Goosefoot Restaurant Photo Credit: chicagomag.com

After the show, concertgoers can go to many restaurants and pubs in Lincoln Square.  Goosefoot has some great American cuisine. For more casual comfort food, there’s Gene’s Sausage Shop and Deli. For some beer to go with those brats, there’s The Grafton, a bar with literally hundreds of beers to try. Lincoln Square is the perfect neighborhood to hear excellent music, grab a bite to eat, and have a good drink.

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