Tricks & Treats & Travis & Taylor—It’s Time for Some Halloween Fun!
Whether you’re 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 month’s blog offers all kinds of suggestions for some seasonal fun! Including and especially the info on some of this year’s most popular costumes (yes, of course we’re talking about getting’ your Tay-tay showgirl and Trav-trav Chiefs uniforms on!) For The Littles—An 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 Austin’s 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 It’s field trip time! Pick a Friday or Saturday night this month and head on down San Antonio way to Bat City Scaregrounds in Buda. That’s where you and your crew will step into a 15-acre world of horror this Halloween and brave three terrifying haunted houses. You’ll 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 Museum’s 42nd Annual Viva La Vida Festival and Parade is Austin’s largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event, and this year it’s taking place before Halloween. Co-presented by the Austin Convention Center and the City of Austin, this year’s 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 year’s special section for Viva la Vida Fest will be flores de la ofrenda (flowers for the altar), which are important to Día 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 abandon—it’s 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 feting—and frightening!—friends 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 their—and our—favorites 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 gobblin’ (see what we did there? 😎😎), 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 isn’t any slouch, either, when it comes to yikes and yummies. You can make drawing “legs” 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, and—of course—there’s no forgetting that all-time classic, a Dirt Cake topped with gummy worms! One More—VERY IMPORTANT—Thing! Did you know you can keep up with a lot of what’s going on in the ATX by signing up for a FREE email newsletter? Yep, that’s right, Visit Austin—from, well, Visit Austin! from the? Here’s 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 live—and 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 it’s no wonder what was once a scrappy local mom-and-pop pizzeria evolved over almost 20 years into an iconic Austin landmark—the pies are worth every penny and then some! (At least we think that’s what they said…..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 you’re 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. It’s 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 worries—the 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? That’s right, the retailer known for being all about guaranteed-authentic Holy Grail pre-owned products in great condition—and quick buy-outs on pieces you’re ready to sell—is 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. There’s No Shame In Our Dinner Game! We decided it just wouldn’t be a good blog post if we didn’t 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 Market’s 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!
It’s 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 first….. National Book Lovers Day Is August 9 While there’s no bad day to love a book, you’ll 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 count—traditional, audio, manga, ebooks—all 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 “with” 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 all—Oprah 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! “It’s mainly for math,” 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, “It’s 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.” Their guidance, in a nutshell? Listen more/talk less. Don’t 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 school—or if they’re home schooled—chances are they’ve already used some form of what is called “generative AI (artificial intelligence)” 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 “humanizers” to us, because—according to several teenagers we know—it’s 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 Nelson’s 4th Of July Picnic For many Austinites, it’s a family tradition to attend Willie Nelson’s 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 show—featuring Bob Dylan, The Mavericks, The Avett Brothers (and Willie, of course)—will 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 they’re 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? “Picnic 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.” 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 large—easier to manage on a plate, or, even better on a skewer, like these fun—and patriotic!—peanut 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 they’ve got the best recipe for chocolate chip cookies in the world. We’re 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 make—unless your grandma preferred that box of instant with the powdered orange stuff in it. Not that we’re judging. We listen, and we don’t judge. We’re talking about macaroni and cheese now not because it’s a great picnic food (cold macaroni salad works better for that), but because Monday, July 14, 2025, is…..drum roll, please…..National Mac and Cheese Day! Yep, America’s classic comfort food has its own day. Nobody’s 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 Living’s Best-Ever Homemade Macaroni and Cheese. Cheers! You can’t have a picnic, whether at the Fourth of July celebration or on the sun deck by our luxury apartment home community’s 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 cocktail—a mix of Coca-Cola and red wine. Men’s 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, don’t bring glass to the pool! And while there’s 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 Bend—Father’s Day & New Fitness Equipment
No matter what you call your father—baba or tata, papa or pita, daddy or dad—it’s all about him come Father’s 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, here’s 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 everyone—thank you for your cooperation! Fun For The Entire Family Now, for Father’s Day ice cream….. Going out for frozen treats is a way the entire gang can celebrate the occasion. And where better than Amy’s Ice Creams, with its multiple locations across the city? The Idea Specialists™ have a love-hate relationship with Amy’s—love 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 Cookie flavor, a dreamy dessert featuring the shop’s classic Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream made with coconut milk, sweet agave, and crumbly SieteFoods Wedding Cookies. And, y’all? That Texas Dirt Cake flavor? Oh my goodness! Plus, Amy’s 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 Father’s 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 Father’s Day gift ideas and one of your first results will be the Oprah Daily list of “50 Best Gifts for Dads Who Say They Don’t Want Anything.” One of everybody’s top picks is the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which provide high-quality sound—and 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. That’s why they’re going to take advantage of one of the Unlimited Membership plans offered by The Wash Shop, with multiple locations in Austin. It’s a treat for both themselves and their dads. Cheers To Dad! Whether your pops prefers bourbon or beer, there’s 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 time—comfortable and familiar, relaxed and easygoing. And this year they’re featuring a special Father’s Day Brunch with an all-you-care-to-eat buffet. Yum! Did You Know? According to History.com, the nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. But it wasn’t until 1972—58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official—that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States. That’s when then-President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation making it so. Economists estimate that Americans now spend more than $1 billion each year on Father’s 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!
It’s the merry, merry month of May at the upscale Renaissance at North Bend apartment home community in Austin, Texas, which means Mother’s Day, National Pet Month, and more! And by more, of course we mean Star Wars Day Sunday, May 4, 2025: “May the Fourth be with you.” (If you haven’t seen the LEGO Star Wars sets, then maybe this is the year!) Quickly followed by Cinco de Mayo, which—as we well know—Isn’t 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. That’s because of the restructuring of Historic Sixth Street (originally named Pecan Street when Edwin Waller designed Austin’s 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 it’s sure to be a good one. And no matter who it is, you’ll 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 Specialists™* to fill us in on the background of Mother’s 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: “The credit belongs to Anna Jarvis, who organized the first official Mother’s 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.” U.S. President Woodrow Wilson gave the holiday federal recognition in 1914. It’s also because of Anna Jarvis that one of the gifts we give our mamas this month is flowers. She specifically selected her own late mother’s favorite flower, the white carnation, as the holiday’s official emblem. At many churches, particularly in the South, it became a tradition to give each female in the congregation a corsage on Mother’s Day, and not just of carnations. What mattered was the color—red or pink if your mother was still alive, and white if what remained were memories of her. Let’s 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. That’s why we loved the idea of getting that perfect arrangement for mom this year from Freytag’s Florist on West Anderson Lane, which has some breathtaking designs. (Delivery or pickup starting Monday, May 5.) Or, if you’re in the market for something that will last a little longer—and want to splurge—ByGeorge 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 wouldn’t 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!). We’re A Pet-Friendly Luxury Apartment Home Community Because we’re 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, it’s 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 Month’s 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 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.
April Appreciations—Easter, National Library Week, The Masters & The ABC Kite Festival!
It seems like everyone’s 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 Week—there’s something for almost everybody to celebrate and appreciate! Go Fly A Kite! The ABC Kite Fest at Zilker Park—one of Austin’s most beloved family-friendly traditions—is 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 children’s music concert. The Capitol 10K—Another 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, Austin’s iconic race teems with talent and personality. Experience the 48th annual Statesman Cap10K Sunday, April 6. Now Let’s Hop Into Easter It sure does feel like the ATC has more than a baker’s dozen worth of Easter Egg Hunts and other “eggcellent” events to pick from this year! Austin Kids Out and About has a great post about lots of them, and says they’re adding new info as they get it! Many of these activities are taking place before the actual holiday because it’s late this year—Sunday, 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 you’re 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 year’s theme for National Library Week April 6-12 is “Drawn to the Library,” and that’s because libraries have something that draws everyone in: books, magazines, computer stations, story time for kids, DVDS, online resources, and more. If you haven’t lately, stop by the Milwood Branch of the Austin Public Library to see what all they have to offer. Teed Up Next—The Masters For some people, it just wouldn’t be spring in without the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. If you’re lucky enough to have the chance to attend—even if only for a practice round—take it! It’s 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. Here’s 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!! Don’t have time to make your own sammies in your custom-appointed kitchen? Not to worry—you 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.
Bluebonnets, Hoops Madness & ALDI Fun Finds — All Slam Dunks for Renaissance North Bend in March!
Just like everybody’s a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, everybody’s got a bracket when March Madness rolls around. That’s why Renaissance at North Bend in Austin, Texas, asked *the Idea Specialists™* for some slam-dunk suggestions on how to celebrate both this month. The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon…..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 they’ve got some tips on where to go for the best photo opportunities! First and foremost is the city’s crown jewel of flora—the 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 Austin’s post on Where to See Wildflowers Near Austin for some more ideas. The Idea Specialists™ can’t 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 it’s green beer and corned beef or “Courtside Punch” 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 there’s nothing “shameful” 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 “ALDI Finds,” a rotating stock of limited-edition, often seasonally themed items. It’s also a prime spot to score dupes of popular name-brand products, at a fraction of the price. Who wouldn’t cheer for that? Gameday Gatherings When it comes to watching the NCAA men’s 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 you’re competing against friends, so get yourself a bracket going! There doesn’t have to be any money on the line—it can be all about the bragging rights! You can also play around with non-sports brackets to get the non-fans involved—movies, 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. Patrick’s Day is more about the wearing of green clothing and celebrating all things Irish! Faith and begorrah! There’s so much St. Patrick’s Day-related activity going on in Austin this year that it’s 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 wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s Day in the 512 without a bar crawl or two…. Enjoy, be safe! Oh, & P.S.!!! We didn’t forget that March in Austin means South by Southwest! Just kinda figured you knew that already. 😎 * 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 stages—from initial spark to hot flame, brightly burning fire to softly glowing embers. That’s why the Renaissance at North Bend luxury apartment homes community in Austin, Texas, asked the *Idea Specialists™* for suggestions on making this Valentine’s Day a memorable one. Champagne & Caviar The first thing they said is that a great choice for this Valentine’s 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 Mélat. Amor Eterno! From Thursday, February 13, through Sunday, February 16, downtown’s Arriba Abajo Rooftop Cantina is offering a special Valentine’s dinner for two, including braised short ribs, papas bravas, charred rapini, and escabeche. What the Idea Specialists™ are most excited about, of course, is dessert—a 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 Valentine’s Day. “You Make My Heart Fizz” is a pink gin fizz with gin, lemon, lime, blackberry, cinnamon heavy cream, egg white, and rose water, and it’s 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 list—95 Romantic, Unique and Spicy Valentine’s Day Ideas for Every Couple. Sweets For Your Sweetie And speaking of chocolate….. 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 Valentine’s 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 there’s 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 Compartés. 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 life—a cute mini-waffle maker! You can make kid-sized waffles in a heart shape perfect for Valentine’s Day morning—or 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. Valentine’s Day can be as much fun for pets as it is for humans—as long as dangerous items are kept out of paws’ 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.
Those Little Special Somethings
One Change To Make In Each Room To Make Your Life Better In 2025 Bedroom Magic The bright and airy bedrooms at the Renaissance at North Bend luxury apartment home community in Austin are just brimming with design potential! One way to maximize the natural light from their windows is with a large mirror to reflect that gorgeous Texas sunshine and get your day off to a pleasant start. Like magic, it will make the already spacious rooms seem even larger! The *Idea Specialists™* love the idea of leaning an oversized arched mirror against a wall (no nail holes!!). From ornate to Midcentury Modern the styles abound, but you really can’t go wrong with classic black (available from Amazon). Bathroom Beautiful Tired of reaching for your toothpaste only to knock over your deodorant and lotion because your bathroom vanity has gotten so cluttered? It’s easy to get organized and beautify your surroundings with all of the container options available now, especially if you follow some of the tips in this House Beautiful piece! Some faves: Don’t double up! Buy cleaning supplies when you need them, instead of stockpiling. And keep them in a convenient caddy! Declutter once a season. Do you really wear the same lipstick in June that you do in November? No. So store stuff accordingly. And speaking of lipstick, check out this groovy rotating cosmetics display case! Kitchen Confidential You can instantly liven up your space, add warmth, and protect the floors in your kitchen by adding a colorful or patterned area rug or runner. The great thing about this change is that it’s almost the ultimate in temporary decoration—you can rotate rugs with the seasons without spending very much money so your culinary space stays fresh. (Like your vegetables, we hope!) Ruggable has unbeatable selections, easy-to-swap styles, and—best of all—their products are machine-washable! Good Housekeeping has everything you need to know before you buy in this post. Den Delights When it comes to choosing lamps for your den, the options can seem endless. Before you make a decision, think about how you’re using the various spaces in the room. Do you need task lighting for an area you’ve dedicated as a work space? A table lamp by the couch for reading? Once you know, then consider your color and style options. The Idea Specialists™ recently found this great combination floor lamp and end table. And, if you, too, are not a fan of visible cords, you can take your pick of colors with these affordable decorative covers. The Idea Specialists™ recently discovered Scott+Cooner Austin, which is an easy drive from Renaissance at North Bend on 1-35 South, and could spend just hours there exploring decorating options (including delightful lighting, of course!). Balcony Bonus One of the great things about living at Renaissance at North Bend is the option of having a patio or private balcony. Whichever you choose, one easy way to bring color and comfort to the space is by adding greenery with potted plants, hanging planters, or even faux plants for a touch of nature. Artificial plant bonus: No worries about watering or changes in the weather! The Idea Specialists™ recently used a luxe combo of pots of trailing variegated String Of Hearts from Pottery Barn and traditional ferns by House of Silk Flowers (from Bed Bath & Beyond) to soften corners and enliven a balcony. For other ideas, check out great tips on selecting faux plants from The Spruce. Community Calendar Looking to get out and about to shake off the winter blues? ATX doesn’t ever disappoint. Check out these sites for all your options: – Do512 – The Austinot – Visit Austin * 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.
