I won’t deny it: I am a Francophile. Between great music (Francoise Hardy, anyone?) and impeccable style, France has long been synonymous with culture and sophistication. For a foodie, however, France is paradise, and as much as I enjoy Parisian fashion, I’ll take my Pierre Hermé over Pierre Hardy any day. So what’s a girl to do when she’s stuck on this side of the Atlantic? Live, eat and drink like a Parisian in Texas.
Where do you find your Paris?

Photography courtesy of La Boîte Café 

  
Photography by Kris Luck

Tomorrow, join Badgerdog Literary Publishing for an afternoon celebrating Central Texas' brightest, young literary talent! The remarkable 3rd to 12th grade students published in Badgerdog's literary anthologies, Rise and Emerge, will be reading selections from their work, followed by a reception, during which young authors will be available to sign copies of the anthology.

The event is free and open to the public, offering a wonderful opportunity to honor Austin's future literary stars! 

Two years ago, Mark Garza discovered his father had been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer—a diagnosis that shook his entire family. Cancer, Garza notes, takes both a financial and mental toll, and he began turning to exercise and counseling to cope with the reality of his father’s diagnosis. “The effect this had on my life was monumental,” he observes. “I realized we need to share this message of how important it is to stay strong mentally.”

By the time summer comes around, we Austinites are left scrambling for the next frozen treat to beat the heat. From ice cream to snow cones, popsicles to fro-yo, we will lick, scoop, and sprinkle just about anything to keep cool. This summer, however, Blenders & Bowls offers a unique, healthy alternative to your typical frozen indulgence: açai berry.

There’s nothing like starting off the week with some beautiful artwork, and the Wally Workman Gallery offers art aficionados something to look forward to this weekend—the opening reception for America Martin’s latest exhibit on Saturday, May 5.

Though Austin has made a name for itself as one of the greenest cities in the country, it can still be a challenge to incorporate green, sustainable living into the everyday aspects of our lives. Austin’s newest Sustain Center, however, takes the guesswork out of going green: set to open on April 28, the innovative showroom hopes to open up the world of sustainable systems to the Austin community.

We know the prospect of facing an entirely new week can be daunting, so we’re excited to present you with our weekly Monday Survival Guide. Here, we’ll share some of our start-of-the-week pick-me-ups, from the great tunes that get us going in the morning to recipes that make us smile, as we fight off the Monday blues.

When Austinites show their support for a great cause, they do it in true, funky Austin fashion: next month, join the Breast Cancer Research Centers of Texas for Art Bra Austin — an event as bold and strong as the breast cancer survivors it represents.