Create a Holiday Beverage Bar That Warms the Spirit
The holidays are a time for cozy gatherings, laughter, and plenty of delicious drinks to share. Whether youâre hosting a family get-together, a festive open house, or a quiet evening with friends at home at Renaissance North Bend apartment community, according to * the Idea Specialists⢠* a Holiday Beverage Bar can transform your home into a seasonal sanctuary of comfort and cheer. One timeless favorite â hot apple cider â makes the perfect centerpiece, easily customized for guests of all ages. Hereâs how to create a beautiful, flavorful, and inviting setup that feels as magical as the season itself. Step 1: Start with the Star â The Hot Apple Cider At the heart of your beverage bar is a large simmering pot or slow cooker of apple cider, ready to serve warm and fragrant. Start with a high-quality cider and infuse it with whole cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and orange slices. Let it simmer for an hour before your guests arrive, so your home fills with that irresistible holiday aroma. For a spiked version, set out a small tray of spirits so guests can create their own twist: Bourbon for a deep, smoky sweetness Spiced rum for warmth and holiday spice Fireball or cinnamon whiskey for a festive kick Brandy or applejack for a traditional touch Be sure to label each bottle clearly and include small jiggers for easy measuring. A sign that reads âMake it merry â spike it if you like it!â adds a whimsical touch. For a family-friendly or non-alcoholic option, offer: A caramel drizzle station with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkles Orange zest, cranberries, or apple slices for garnish A dash of ginger syrup or honey for added flavor Keep the non-alcoholic cider in a separate pot or clearly designated dispenser to make it easy for everyone to enjoy safely. Check out this recipe for Hot Apple Cider! Thereâs something especially comforting about gathering with friends over a steaming mug of hot apple cider. The sweet aroma of simmering apples, warm spices, and a hint of citrus has a way of slowing time, inviting everyone to settle in, relax, and savor the moment. Whether youâre hosting a cozy fall get-together or simply sharing a quiet evening with those you love, hot apple cider turns even the simplest gathering into something memorable.Here's a recipe from your friends at Renaissance North Bend for Hot Apple Cider–guaranteed to hit the spot! Step 2: Deck Out Your Beverage Bar with Holiday Charm A beautiful setup makes the experience even more memorable. Start with a themed table or sideboard â rustic wood, plaid linens, or a cozy winter color scheme (think deep reds, forest greens, and metallic accents). Add layers of decor that bring warmth and texture: Twinkling string lights or small tea candles in mason jars Pine branches, holly, or eucalyptus sprigs for natural greenery A chalkboard sign with the cider recipe or a festive quote like âSip, Smile, & Be Merryâ Holiday mugs or glassware arranged on a tiered tray For an extra personal touch, tie a bit of ribbon or twine around each mug handle â itâs a small detail that feels welcoming and thoughtful. Step 3: Add Garnishes That Sparkle and Delight The magic is in the details, and garnishes make your cider bar both Instagram-worthy and delicious. Offer bowls of: Cinnamon sticks and star anise pods Dehydrated orange wheels for a rustic, elegant look Cranberries or pomegranate seeds to float on top Whipped cream and caramel sauce for indulgence Encourage guests to mix and match their toppings â it becomes an experience rather than just a drink. Step 4: Pair with Festive Appetizers A great beverage deserves equally festive bites. Complement your cider bar with small plates that balance sweet and savory: Baked brie with cranberry chutney Apple and cheddar crostini Mini sausage rolls or puff pastry bites Cinnamon sugar donut holes or gingerbread cookies Display them on matching platters near the beverage setup for a cohesive, inviting spread. Step 5: Create Cozy Moments The goal of a holiday beverage bar is more than just serving drinks â itâs about creating memories. Set up a comfortable seating area nearby with soft blankets, a playlist of holiday classics, and maybe even a crackling fire. Encourage guests to linger, sip, and share stories. A Toast to the Season With the aroma of cinnamon and cider filling the air, laughter echoing, and glasses clinking, your Holiday Beverage Bar will become a beloved seasonal tradition. Whether spiked or not, each cup will warm hearts and bring joy â the true spirit of the holidays. About The Idea Specialists⢠The Idea Specialists⢠is a division of Panorama Corporate Digital Communications, a business-lifestyle communications company serving the multifamily industry. We provide strategic communication solutions that enrich resident experience and strengthen community engagement.
Tricks & Treats & Travis & TaylorâIt’s Time for Some Halloween Fun!
Whether youâre planning a party with friends and neighbors at your charming and pet-friendly Renaissance North Bend apartment home in Austin, Texas, or making the ATX scene, Halloween season offers all kinds of opportunities for fun! Either way, this monthâs blog offers all kinds of suggestions for some seasonal fun! Including and especially the info on some of this yearâs most popular costumes (yes, of course weâre talking about gettingâ your Tay-tay showgirl and Trav-trav Chiefs uniforms on!) For The LittlesâAn Historic Halloween Carnival The Neill-Cochran Museum on St. Gabriel Street is putting out the call all to all ghouls and goblins, Travis Kelces and Taylor Swifts, KPop Demon Hunters, Wednesdays, and Capybaras!! Your littles can expect to enjoy trunk-or-treat, scavenger hunts, games, and more at a FREE family-friendly Halloween Carnival at one of Austinâs most historic house museums! This year the annual event will take place Sunday, October 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Access to the lawn will be free and open to the public, and you can drop in any time to join the fun and tour the museum. Kids can explore Austin history with engaging seek-and-finds. Best of all? Free parking!!  For The Bigs Itâs field trip time! Pick a Friday or Saturday night this month and head on down San Antonio way to Bat City Scaregrounds in Buda. Thatâs where you and your crew will step into a 15-acre world of horror this Halloween and brave three terrifying haunted houses. Youâll explore a sinister castle, face an ancient evil, and navigate a gruesome slaughter mall. What could be more fun? Oh, we know! Live music! Acts like Sin & Seraphim, Polybius Cabinet, and The Immortalz will crank it up at 9 p.m. on those nights, so come costumed and ready to rock! And take in some Vegas-style stage performances and indulge in seasonal eats and treats. For Everyone! Mexic-Arte Museumâs 42nd Annual Viva La Vida Festival and Parade is Austinâs largest and longest-running DĂa de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event, and this year itâs taking place before Halloween. Co-presented by the Austin Convention Center and the City of Austin, this yearâs festival will take place Saturday, October 25, at 4th Street and Congress Avenue. The festivities will begin with a Grand Procession at noon, and activities will run until 6 pm. Plan to enjoy traditional foods, local artists and retail booths, a low-rider exhibition, and live performances throughout the day, as well as the Education Pavilion with hands-on art activities. This yearâs special section for Viva la Vida Fest will be flores de la ofrenda (flowers for the altar), which are important to DĂa de los Muertos celebrations because they symbolize the beauty, fragility, and cyclical nature of life and death. Scary-Good Party Ideas Brew up some sinister mock- and cocktails, prepare some frightful finger foods, and decorate with seasonal black and orange abandonâitâs time to have your very own howling good Halloween party! Both inside and out on your private patio or balcony, your Renaissance North Bend apartment home is the perfect setting both for fetingâand frightening!âfriends and family. We asked * the Idea Specialists⢠* for some tips and tricks to be the hosts with most. They pointed us to HGTV, which has some great ideas for decorating. One of theirâand ourâfavorites is to use your fireplace as a focal point. Use a mix of mums and candles (unlit, for safety!) around it, and fill it full of pumpkins and gourds. So fun! As are these battery-powered holiday candles from Walmart, which come complete with their own remote control. For goodies for gobblinâ (see what we did there? đđ), the site comes through again with snack ideas like Hairy Eyeballs (polenta poppers topped with corn silk and a few dribbles of blood marinara sauce), Poisoned Candy Apples (get out the black food coloring!) and more. The Food Network isnât any slouch, either, when it comes to yikes and yummies. You can make drawing âlegsâ with chocolate on the Scary Peanut Butter Spider Cookies a family affair, whip up a No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brain in next to no time, andâof courseâthereâs no forgetting that all-time classic, a Dirt Cake topped with gummy worms! One MoreâVERY IMPORTANTâThing! Did you know you can keep up with a lot of whatâs going on in the ATX by signing up for a FREE email newsletter? Yep, thatâs right, Visit Austinâfrom, well, Visit Austin! from the? Hereâs the link: https://www.austintexas.org/plan-a-trip/enewsletter/ Happy Halloween!  * The Idea Specialists⢠* The Idea Specialists⢠is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the multifamily industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more. They do not receive any sort of product or financial incentives for their recommendations in posts such as these.
The Tried & True—And Something New!
One of the great things about calling the Renaissance North Bend luxury apartment home community your home is all the tried and true places that make Austin, Texas, such a wonderful place to liveâand the many new shops, restaurants, and venues that always seem to be opening! The Tried We asked * The Idea Specialists⢠* to give Home Slice Pizza (the North Loop location on East 53rd Street) a try and report back in. They said itâs no wonder what was once a scrappy local mom-and-pop pizzeria evolved over almost 20 years into an iconic Austin landmarkâthe pies are worth every penny and then some! (At least we think thatâs what they saidâŚ..they were talking with their mouths full, LOL.) New York-style pizza, Italian ices made in house, and Italian wines by the glass, bottle, or carafe just a few of the things that make Home Slice a must if youâre in the mood for kid-friendly casual dining. In crust we trust indeed! The True A locally based small business, Hill Country Water Gardens & Nursery has made a name for itself over more than 20 years as a destination garden center. Itâs worth the short ride to the Cedar Park area not only to check out their great selection of tropicals, house plants, and succulents, but also to enjoy the peaceful beauty of the pond, the fish, and the gorgeous outside plants! No experience? No worriesâthe Hill Country team is dedicated to personalized customer service and providing proven products and solutions. The New Did you know that Domain NORTHSIDE has its own Fashionphile pop-up location now? Thatâs right, the retailer known for being all about guaranteed-authentic Holy Grail pre-owned products in great conditionâand quick buy-outs on pieces youâre ready to sellâis now convenient to Renaissance North Bend. The shop is full of vintage and like-new goods from ultra-luxury brands like Chanel, Hermès, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and more. Thereâs No Shame In Our Dinner Game! We decided it just wouldnât be a good blog post if we didnât say something about food to eat in the comfort of your luxuriously cozy (and pet-friendly!) Renaissance North Bend apartment home, so we asked the Idea Specialists⢠to suggest something fast and simple to get on the table now that school is back in serious swing. They immediately suggested taking advantage of the One-Pan Meals at Central Marketâs Austin North Lamar location. Priced between $20 and $30 for the most part, there are multiple options, all designed to feed three to four. Enjoy! One More Thing Are your kids as obsessed as ours with MrBeast? If so, then you probably already know that the dude (aka Jimmy Donaldson) has 423 million subscribers on YouTube and a wildly popular unscripted show on Prime Video (Beast Games). But did you (and they) know that he and popular science YouTuber Mark Rober are now co-leading the new initiative #TeamWater, a crowdfunding campaign to change millions of lives around the world through access to clean water? Powered by the biggest team of content creators on the internet, the campaign has a goal of raising $40 million to provide 2 million people with life-changing access to clean water for decades. Something to talk about at supper for sure! * The Idea Specialists⢠* The Idea Specialists⢠is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more. They do not receive any sort of product or financial incentives for their recommendations in posts such as these.
It’s Almost Time for Back to School & Book Lovers Day at Renaissance North Bend!
Itâs almost back-to-school time in the metro Austin, Texas, area, home to the upscale and pet-friendly Renaissance at North Bend apartment community (not to mention the Congress Avenue Bridge bats!). But firstâŚ.. National Book Lovers Day Is August 9 While thereâs no bad day to love a book, youâll be in good company if you celebrate this particular passion with fellow bibliophiles on National Book Lovers Day Saturday, August 9, 2005. And, yes, all kinds of books countâtraditional, audio, manga, ebooksâall of them! The Renaissance North Bend team asked the * Idea Specialists⢠* for some of their thoughts on other ways to mark the occasion. Of course their first suggestion was checking out the Spicewood Springs Branch of the Austin Public Library. They also reminded us that book clubs are a great way to get to know your neighbors. The clubhouse lounge would be a great place to meet if the group gets big enough, while you might enjoy hosting something smaller in your stylish Renaissance North Bend living room. Or, maybe you prefer to read with a group but not âwithâ a group. In that case, you can always read something from a national book club, like the ones of Reese Witherspoon, Jenna Bush Hager, and the reader who started it allâOprah Winfrey! Back To School: Pimples, Pencils & Patience The Idea Specialists⢠asked some of the young people in their lives to tell them the most important things teens and their parents need to have as they get ready to go back to school. First suggestion: A bottle of Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, because for most kids, pimples are just a fact of life at some point. A 1-ounce bottle goes a looooooong way! Next, a box of BIC ReVolution Xtra Life Mechanical Pencils. Yep, the members of Generation Z still use pencils at a school! âItâs mainly for math,â says one 16-year-old. Finally? Patience. Patience, patience, patience. Because teens are going through a lot, and it really is hard for them to imagine that the adults in their lives were once young. As Parenting Teens & Tweens puts it, âItâs a tough time for everyone, but it is also a time when your teen really needs you to keep it together. So much of their behavior results from the push and pull they feel between holding onto their childhood while at the same time wanting to move toward adulthood.â Their guidance, in a nutshell? Listen more/talk less. Donât take things too personally. Identify specific triggers. Set boundaries. Also, the Center for Parent and Tenn Communication has a good article about helping teens develop patience.  Hey ChatGPT, Do My Homework! No matter if the kids in your life attend public, private, or parochial schoolâor if theyâre home schooledâchances are theyâve already used some form of what is called âgenerative AI (artificial intelligence)â to help them with an in-class assignment or their homework. In a nutshell, teens and college students are turning to tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, as well as Otter.ai for note-taking and Grammarly for writing assistance. (How do we know? We asked Google AI, LOL.) We also asked Google AI to explain âhumanizersâ to us, becauseâaccording to several teenagers we knowâitâs best to use something like ChatGPT along with technology that will make, say, the ChatGPT essay on The Constitution of the United States, sound more like it was written by a human being than a machine. Some examples are QuillBot, Writesonic, , Ahrefs, Prepostseo, and Decopy AI. The Center for Digital Thriving has some great questions to ask for starting conversations with your kids about AI, including: What kinds of uses do you think should be allowed in school, and, has your school or any of your teachers set any rules about using it? Communication is key!  * The Idea Specialists⢠* The Idea Specialists⢠is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
July Means Friends, Family & Fireworks at Renaissance North Bend
Fantastic fireworks and good food shared with family and friends are two key ingredients for a successful Fourth of July, and the Renaissance North Bend team in Austin, Texas, is here with the recipe! Willie Nelsonâs 4th Of July Picnic For many Austinites, itâs a family tradition to attend Willie Nelsonâs 4th of July Picnic, an annual event since 1972. Doors of the Germania Insurance Amphitheater will open at 3 p.m. Friday, July 4, 2025, and the showâfeaturing Bob Dylan, The Mavericks, The Avett Brothers (and Willie, of course)âwill start at 4 p.m. Fireworks will light up the sky after sunset, and everything should wind down by 10 p.m. Check out Visit Austin for a great rundown on the ATX in July, including the annual Star Spangled Fest that will include patriotic music by the Austin Symphony Orchestra with a grand finale fireworks display over Lady Bird Lake. The Perfect Picnic The Renaissance North Bend team asked * the Idea Specialists⢠* what they would pack for the perfect picnic to take to a July outing. They said theyâre big fans of the Real Simple Picnic Checklist, which includes everything from reminders to take bug spray and a portable speaker to suggestions for food and beverages. The best advice from Real Simple? âPicnic fare is all about food that will taste great whether you eat it now or two hours from now. It should be easy to eat and clean up. And the less utensils needed, the better.â Amen to that! And, the Idea Specialists⢠are in agreement that every picnic basket should contain something sweet and something savory. Small portions are better than largeâeasier to manage on a plate, or, even better on a skewer, like these funâand patriotic!âpeanut butter and jelly skewers from Weelicious. You could do this with just about any kind of sandwich. Heck, you could even do a skewer alternating bites of your favorite brownies and chocolate chip cookies with fruit. (Which of course you should pick up at one of the Texas Farmers Market locations, Bell or Mueller.) Now, everybody thinks theyâve got the best recipe for chocolate chip cookies in the world. Weâre not going to argue, because so do we! But we are going to suggest that everyone give Ovenly’s Secretly Vegan Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies a try. Oh my heavens at the melty goodness! Ooey-Gooey Cheesy Goodness And speaking of recipes and goodness, everybody also has their favorite macaroni and cheese, right? Just like grandma used to makeâunless your grandma preferred that box of instant with the powdered orange stuff in it. Not that weâre judging. We listen, and we donât judge. Weâre talking about macaroni and cheese now not because itâs a great picnic food (cold macaroni salad works better for that), but because Monday, July 14, 2025, isâŚ..drum roll, pleaseâŚ..National Mac and Cheese Day! Yep, Americaâs classic comfort food has its own day. Nobodyâs sure quite how or why, but you can read about the history of the dish and its connection to U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. And then you can take advantage of your upscale Renaissance North Bend kitchen to make Southern Livingâs Best-Ever Homemade Macaroni and Cheese. Cheers! You canât have a picnic, whether at the Fourth of July celebration or on the sun deck by our luxury apartment home communityâs resort-style pool, without something to quench your thirst. If you want more than just a plain Coke and a smile, try the popular Kalimotxo cocktailâa mix of Coca-Cola and red wine. Menâs Journal says the drink got its start in the Basque region of Spain, and now there are multiple variations on the theme. Remember, whatever you drink, donât bring glass to the pool! And while thereâs nothing wrong with a classic red SOLO 18-ounce party cup, why not treat yourself to some fun tumblers like these 24-ounce reusable thick plastic sunflower cups from Amazon? They come complete with straw and lid, perfect for sipping without spilling! Be safe, have fun!  * The Idea Specialists⢠* The Idea Specialists⢠is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
June at Renaissance at North BendâFather’s Day & New Fitness Equipment
No matter what you call your fatherâbaba or tata, papa or pita, daddy or dadâitâs all about him come Fatherâs Day! So the Renaissance at North Bend team in Austin, Texas, asked * the Idea Specialists⢠* for some ways to show the father figures in our lives a little extra love on Sunday, June 15, this year. First on the list? An ice cream outing! But before we get to that, hereâs a fun little Facebook video about the grand reopening of our newly renovated fitness center, complete with new equipment! Just a quick reminder, residents must wear their community wristbands to access and use the fitness center. This helps us keep the space safe and enjoyable for everyoneâthank you for your cooperation! Fun For The Entire Family Now, for Fatherâs Day ice creamâŚ.. Going out for frozen treats is a way the entire gang can celebrate the occasion. And where better than Amyâs Ice Creams, with its multiple locations across the city?  The Idea Specialists⢠have a love-hate relationship with Amyâsâlove it because of how great everything tastes, hate it because there are SO many decadent and delicious choices! They swear by the vegan Siete Mexican Wedding Cookieâ flavor, a dreamy dessert featuring the shopâs classic Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream made with coconut milk, sweet agave, and crumbly SieteFoods Wedding Cookies. And, yâall? That Texas Dirt Cake flavor? Oh my goodness! Plus, Amyâs offer dog-friendly treats for your furry friends, which means a lot to us because Renaissance at North Bend is an extremely pet-friendly upscale apartment home community! Guilt-Free Golf For some dads, the best gift would be time spent with them watching the U.S. Open Golf Championship, the final round of which is traditionally played on the third Sunday in June (always falling on Fatherâs Day). Pile up on the couch in your comfy Renaissance at North Bend living room and turn the TV to NBC or the Golf Channel to see if PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler walks away with another one. In keeping with the golf theme, the Idea Specialists⢠can vouch that Golfballs.com does a great job on customized balls, tees, and towels, with excellent customer service and a fast turnaround time. Listen Up            Google for Fatherâs Day gift ideas and one of your first results will be the Oprah Daily list of â50 Best Gifts for Dads Who Say They Don’t Want Anything.â One of everybodyâs top picks is the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which provide high-quality soundâand mean that the wearer can take calls and play music while staying aware of his surroundings. Safety and convenience! Unlimited Auto Love The Idea Specialists⢠are also big fans of practical gifts. Thatâs why theyâre going to take advantage of one of the Unlimited Membership plans offered by The Wash Shop, with multiple locations in Austin. Itâs a treat for both themselves and their dads. Cheers To Dad! Whether your pops prefers bourbon or beer, thereâs something on the menu at Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill (downtown and Avery Ranch) that will quench his thirst (and some tasty treats on the food menu, too, including for the kiddos!). They pride themselves on taking their guests back to a simpler timeâcomfortable and familiar, relaxed and easygoing. And this year theyâre featuring a special Fatherâs Day Brunch with an all-you-care-to-eat buffet. Yum! Did You Know? According to History.com, the nationâs first Fatherâs Day was celebrated June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. But it wasnât until 1972â58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Motherâs Day officialâthat the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States. Thatâs when then-President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation making it so. Economists estimate that Americans now spend more than $1 billion each year on Fatherâs Day gifts. * The Idea Specialists⢠* The Idea Specialists⢠is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
Moms & Memories, Pets & Pampering—It’s the Merry Month of May at Renaissance at North Bend!
Itâs the merry, merry month of May at the upscale Renaissance at North Bend apartment home community in Austin, Texas, which means Motherâs Day, National Pet Month, and more! And by more, of course we mean Star Wars Day Sunday, May 4, 2025: âMay the Fourth be with you.â (If you havenât seen the LEGO Star Wars sets, then maybe this is the year!) Quickly followed by Cinco de Mayo, whichâas we well knowâIsnât really that big a deal in Mexico. But, hey, who are we to argue about going out for some tacos and tequila this Monday, May 5? May Traditions And of course May in the ATX also means the Pecan Street Festival, always the first Saturday and Sunday of the month. This year, its 50th anniversary, this long-standing family-friendly street festival will take place at the Hill Country Galleria. Thatâs because of the restructuring of Historic Sixth Street (originally named Pecan Street when Edwin Waller designed Austinâs street grid). May also means the final two opportunities to take in Twilight Tuesdays at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at UT Austin. The Latin Dukes are on the schedule for May 6; no word yet on the May 13 act, but itâs sure to be a good one. And no matter who it is, youâll get to enjoy some more hours with the flowers and a good time with friends! A Corsage For Your Mama The Renaissance at North Bend team asked *the Idea Specialistsâ˘* to fill us in on the background of Motherâs Day, which is always celebrated on the second Sunday of May (May 11 of this year). They turned to the venerable Smithsonian for the goods: âThe credit belongs to Anna Jarvis, who organized the first official Motherâs Day services on the morning of May 10, 1908, in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia, and later in the afternoon in her adopted hometown of Philadelphia.â U.S. President Woodrow Wilson gave the holiday federal recognition in 1914. Itâs also because of Anna Jarvis that one of the gifts we give our mamas this month is flowers. She specifically selected her own late motherâs favorite flower, the white carnation, as the holidayâs official emblem. At many churches, particularly in the South, it became a tradition to give each female in the congregation a corsage on Motherâs Day, and not just of carnations. What mattered was the colorâred or pink if your mother was still alive, and white if what remained were memories of her. Letâs Support Our Local Merchants! Renaissance at North Bend loves being a part of the greater Austin community, and always wants to support our local businesses when we can. Thatâs why we loved the idea of getting that perfect arrangement for mom this year from Freytagâs Florist on West Anderson Lane, which has some breathtaking designs.  (Delivery or pickup starting Monday, May 5.) Or, if youâre in the market for something that will last a little longerâand want to splurgeâByGeorge on North Lamar Boulevard has everything from the latest styles in jewelry to a wonderful selection of bath and body products. (The Idea Specialists⢠have fallen in love with the Brown Flowers eau de parfum by D.S. & Durga.) Mummy Yummies! And whose mom wouldnât want to go out to eat on her special day? Visit Austin has a great list of suggested eateries! The Idea Specialists⢠are strongly considering taking in the lavish spread at Fairmont Austin (complimentary dining for children 5 and younger!). Weâre A Pet-Friendly Luxury Apartment Home Community Because weâre such a pet-friendly luxury apartment home community, of course we love celebrating National Pet Month! It was founded by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1981 to recognize the bonds we develop with our beloved pets and promote responsible pet care through education and awareness. And, itâs anchored by  National Pet Week the first full week of May. There are an estimated 1 billion pets worldwide, and we want to pet all of them! (Well, OK, maybe not the iguanas so much.) But we do love our fur-babies, so much so that we have leash-free areas for the pups and pet stations throughout the property. The Monthâs End Brings Memorial Day Memorial Day honors those who died or suffered injuries in battle, as compared to Veterans Day on November 11, which honors all who served in the military, whether they served in peace or wartime. This year, Monday, May 26, 2025, is the date of this U.S. Federal holiday; government offices will be closed. *The Idea Specialistsâ˘* The Idea Specialists⢠is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
April AppreciationsâEaster, National Library Week, The Masters & The ABC Kite Festival!
It seems like everyoneâs calendars get crazier than usual when spring rolls around, and this April at Renaissance at North Bend in Austin, Texas, is no exception! The ABC Kite Festival, Easter, the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, National Library Weekâthereâs something for almost everybody to celebrate and appreciate! Go Fly A Kite! The ABC Kite Fest at Zilker Parkâone of Austinâs most beloved family-friendly traditionsâis set for Saturday, April 5 this year. This free festival (now in its amazing 97th year) will start at 10 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. You and your friends and family can take part in day-long activities for all ages, including the traditional kite flying contest and showcase and MossFest, a childrenâs music concert.  The Capitol 10KâAnother Austin Rite of Spring Established in 1978, the Statesman Capitol 10,000 has grown to become the largest 10K in Texas and sixth largest in the country. Each year, Austinâs iconic race teems with talent and personality. Experience the 48th annual Statesman Cap10K Sunday, April 6.  Now Letâs Hop Into Easter It sure does feel like the ATC has more than a bakerâs dozen worth of Easter Egg Hunts and other âeggcellentâ events to pick from this year! Austin Kids Out and About has a great post about lots of them, and says theyâre adding new info as they get it! Many of these activities are taking place before the actual holiday because itâs late this yearâSunday, April 20, 2025 (Passover begins Saturday, April 12). Which gives you plenty of time to lay in supplies and have the fun of making your own charcuterie Easter basket! If youâre not feeling particularly creative, * The Idea Specialists⢠* recommend a quick google search for the kind of goodies you want to share with family and friends. They found lots great boxes and baskets at Harry & David, as well as full holiday dinners! Locally, Austin City Gift Baskets on Pond Springs Road is an excellent option. Our Local Library This yearâs theme for National Library Week April 6-12 is âDrawn to the Library,â and thatâs because libraries have something that draws everyone in: books, magazines, computer stations, story time for kids, DVDS, online resources, and more. If you havenât lately, stop by the Milwood Branch of the Austin Public Library to see what all they have to offer. Teed Up NextâThe Masters For some people, it just wouldnât be spring in without the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. If youâre lucky enough to have the chance to attendâeven if only for a practice roundâtake it! Itâs a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Most of us, though, will get to enjoy the lovely azaleas and admire the prowess of professional athletes like betting favorites Rory McIllroy and Scottie Scheffler from the comfort of our Renaissance at North Bend living rooms. Hereâs the guide for watching at home. We asked The Idea Specialists⢠for some suggestions on how to throw a Masters party, and of course they came through! Egg salad sandwiches, pimento sandwiches, and Mini MoonPies are musts!! Donât have time to make your own sammies in your custom-appointed kitchen? Not to worryâyou can feast on tradition with the Taste of the Masters hosting kit! The world-famous classic concessions items, including pork bar-b-que, are delivered to your door, enabling you to recreate the patron experience. Another way to do that is to make an Azalea Cocktail, the beloved drink of golfers and fans alike. (Pro Tip: This pretty pink concoction goes well with most Easter menus, too!) Fore! * The Idea Specialists⢠* The Idea Specialists⢠is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more. Â
Bluebonnets, Hoops Madness & ALDI Fun Finds — All Slam Dunks for Renaissance North Bend in March!
Just like everybodyâs a little bit Irish on St. Patrickâs Day, everybodyâs got a bracket when March Madness rolls around. Thatâs why Renaissance at North Bend in Austin, Texas, asked *the Idea Specialistsâ˘* for some slam-dunk suggestions on how to celebrate both this month. The Eyes Of Texas Are UponâŚ..Bluebonnets! Plus, early spring in this part of the world means the Texas Hill Country sees bluebonnets and other wildflowers cover the valleys, fields, and meadows. So theyâve got some tips on where to go for the best photo opportunities! First and foremost is the cityâs crown jewel of floraâthe Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which displays nearly 900 native Texas plant species) in gardens, meadows, and nature trails. (Purchase tickets in advance.) Just south of downtown, at beautiful St. Edward’s University, one of the best fields of bluebonnets of is located on the corner of St. Edwards and University Loop drives. Check out Visit Austinâs post on Where to See Wildflowers Near Austin for some more ideas. The Idea Specialists⢠canât wait to finally see The Bluebonnet House on scenic Highway 281 near Marble Falls, in particular. The abandoned two-story stone home surrounded by a field of bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, and old oaks is believed to be the most photographed house in Texas! Fellowship, Food & Fun Finds! From shamrocks to the Sweet Sixteen, and whether itâs green beer and corned beef or âCourtside Punchâ and chicken wings, the things all good March parties have in common are fellowship and food. The Idea Specialists⢠plan to take their shopping lists and go on a little field trip to the ALDI in Pflugerville to stock up on staples and sweets. They have learned about so many good frozen foods and specialty items and gotten so many great recipe ideas from being members of the ALDI Aisle of Shame Community on Facebook! And of course thereâs nothing âshamefulâ about it! The name really refers to the area in the center of the store that is packed with what the grocer refers to as âALDI Finds,â a rotating stock of limited-edition, often seasonally themed items. Itâs also a prime spot to score dupes of popular name-brand products, at a fraction of the price. Who wouldnât cheer for that? Gameday Gatherings When it comes to watching the NCAA menâs basketball tournament, plan to have a few folks over to enjoy the roundball action in the comfort of your luxury apartment home, or take advantage of the wonderful spaces in the Renaissance at North Bend clubhouse to cheer on your faves with your neighbors and friends. Decorate your drinks and spear your appetizers (served in hoop-designed snack cups!) with these fun basketball-themed cocktail picks the Idea Specialists⢠found. It always adds an extra level of excitement when youâre competing against friends, so get yourself a bracket going! There doesnât have to be any money on the lineâit can be all about the bragging rights! You can also play around with non-sports brackets to get the non-fans involvedâmovies, music, and more, the list goes on and on. Check out this post for more ideas. The Wearing Of The Green While once thought of as primarily a day of Catholic religious observance to honor Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, in modern times St. Patrickâs Day is more about the wearing of green clothing and celebrating all things Irish! Faith and begorrah!  Thereâs so much St. Patrickâs Day-related activity going on in Austin this year that itâs hard to pick just one thing to highlight! As always, Visit Austin gives a good rundown, this time on where to go for Guiness and grub. Of course it wouldnât be St. Patrickâs Day in the 512 without a bar crawl or twoâŚ. Enjoy, be safe!  Oh, & P.S.!!! We didnât forget that March in Austin means South by Southwest! Just kinda figured you knew that already. đ * The Idea Specialists⢠* The Idea Specialists⢠is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
Sweet Valentine’s Dreams are Made of This
True love and romance is worth celebrating at all of its stagesâfrom initial spark to hot flame, brightly burning fire to softly glowing embers. Thatâs why the Renaissance at North Bend luxury apartment homes community in Austin, Texas, asked the *Idea Specialistsâ˘* for suggestions on making this Valentineâs Day a memorable one. Champagne & Caviar The first thing they said is that a great choice for this Valentineâs Day weekend would be to indulge in champagne and decadent caviar delicacies at Room 725 (on the seventh floor of the Fairmont Austin on Red River Street). The intimate experience for you and your love will include a performance by acclaimed Austin artist MĂŠlat. Amor Eterno! From Thursday, February 13, through Sunday, February 16, downtownâs Arriba Abajo Rooftop Cantina is offering a special Valentineâs dinner for two, including braised short ribs, papas bravas, charred rapini, and escabeche. What the Idea Specialists⢠are most excited about, of course, is dessertâa chocolate mousse topped with pistachio brittle and a drizzle of red wine caramel. Oh my! Love eternal, indeed! Hearts & Fizzes The Idea Specialist⢠love the idea of the specialty cocktail Loudmouth on Rosewood Avenue has concocted for this Valentineâs Day. âYou Make My Heart Fizzâ is a pink gin fizz with gin, lemon, lime, blackberry, cinnamon heavy cream, egg white, and rose water, and itâs on the special occasion menu that will feature a duroc pork chop for two (according to The Austin American-Statesman). Other Ideas For other ideas about how to celebrate in the city, check out Do512. And The Knot has a fun listâ95 Romantic, Unique and Spicy Valentine’s Day Ideas for Every Couple. Sweets For Your Sweetie And speaking of chocolateâŚ.. Oh, my, but did the Idea Specialists⢠come through for Renaissance at North Bend with suggestions on this front! They hit the jackpot when they found this Food Network post on best buys for Valentineâs Day. Favorites? First up is the Salts of the World Chocolate Collection; each of these chocolates celebrates a different country and features salt, ingredients, and a wildflower all native to that country. So cool! Then thereâs the Belgian Chocolate Covered Mini Doughnut Bouquet. Flowers are nice, but could anything really beat a beautifully packaged bouquet of chocolate-covered mini doughnuts? Then, for the vegan Valentines out there, the Idea Specialists⢠recommend that you go with the Berry Bouquet Vegan Chocolate Box from CompartĂŠs. It is packed with raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, goji berries, cranberries and cherries, all dipped in absurdly good vegan dark chocolate. Kids & Puppies The Idea Specialists⢠also gave the Renaissance at North Bend team a cute suggestion on how to celebrate the little lovies in your lifeâa cute mini-waffle maker! You can make kid-sized waffles in a heart shape perfect for Valentine’s Day morningâor as a dessert treat with ice cream and hot fudge! (Pro Tip: Add a little pink or red food coloring to the batter for that extra flair.) And because they know that Renaissance at North Bend is a very pet-friendly apartment community (woofs and whiskers welcomed!), the Idea Specialists⢠made it a point to share some info on animal safety. Each year the experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) see a rise in cases around February 14, many involving chocolate or lilies. Valentineâs Day can be as much fun for pets as it is for humansâas long as dangerous items are kept out of pawsâ reach! * The Idea Specialists⢠* The Idea Specialists⢠is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
