Weekend Roundup

Clear your schedule: Our picks for the best of the weekend fests

Stock up on the caffeine and gluten-free energy bars, guys, because this weekend you’ll need all the energy you can muster. It seems that every kind of festival imaginable is taking place this weekend, and there’s no doubt some tough decisions will be made if you already haven’t locked down your tickets or badges.

Here’s a brief rundown of what to expect this weekend. If you think it’s possible to make more than one, then godspeed to you.

And don't forget to stop by and wish Eeyore a happy birthday at Pease Park. It'd be a shame if anyone forgot the sad little donkey's birthday.

Clusterfest
This music festival up in Georgetown at Southwestern University might be the best bet if you just want to escape any festival craziness within the city limits. It’s all condensed into one night, April 26, on the campus, so it’s a good choice if you want a hearty appetizer for the next few days. Expect to see the Wheeler Brothers, Heems of Das Racist, local folk pop band Wild Child, and many more before Awolnation takes the stage to close out the Friday night spectacle.

Austin Food and Wine Festival
This town has as many music festivals as it has taco joints. Luckily, the Austin Food and Wine Festival adds more variety to the local festival scene, and it reminds the rest of the world that we take our cuisine and libations just as seriously as we do our live music. The best of Austin’s gourmet and culinary scene is on display for the whole weekend, with tastings or demonstrations from national and local chefs such as Andrew Zimmern or Paul Qui. Just make sure you pace yourself, because this one stretches across the whole weekend.

Austin Psych Fest
Actually, it’s impossible to quit these local music festivals. Just when you think you’re out of energy and functioning eardrums they pull you back in. Austin Psych Fest is a weekend long tribute to the mind-expanding (and sometimes mind-altering) genre of psychedelic rock. The festival will be held for the first time completely out in the open at Carson Creek Ranch, so pitch a tent and take time to peruse out top picks of bands to catch before setting out to leave the real world for one weekend.

Lenoir Crawfish Boil Fundraiser for the Heard Family
Amid all of the festivities taking place this weekend, remember that there are others who need a little extra kindness as they overcome huge obstacles. Lenoir and Austin Food for Life team up on Sunday to assist Power Heard, a former Lenoir employee, and his family in raising funds for 15-month-old daughter, Alice, who is fighting Desmoid Fibramatosis, a rare form of benign bone cancer. Alice has already battled through aggressive surgical removal and intensive physical therapy, and Lenoir wants to help the Heard family offset some of the medical costs.

Join Lenoir for heaps of crawfish and the proper fixings to help a local family get through some tough times. If you’re not able to make it, then online donations are accepted. This little girl and her family will be forever grateful for any help that makes sure she lives a long, healthy life.

Austin Food and Wine Fest 2012

Austin Photo Set: News_Jessica Dupuy_food and wine recap_may 2012_hands on demo

Photo by Dennis Fagan

Austin Food and Wine Fest 2012

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New Treasure Trove

Iconic Austin crystal shop celebrates new location and 25-year milestone

Photo courtesy of Nature's Treasures

Nature's Treasures is officially debuting its new location.

Nature's Treasures, one of Austin's most famous, yet niche stores, is officially making its comeback after being relocated from its spot on I-35. It's one of more than 100 stores that were forced to close locations to make way for a massive highway expansion project, but it's ready to show off its new digs with a "Re-Grand Opening" on Saturday and Sunday, January 25-26.

With help from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the crystal shop was able to make a relatively smooth transition from its former location to 11055 N. IH35 Frontage Rd. It has maintained both locations at once for several weeks, but now it's time for the new space's official debut. So far, there is no specified end date for operations at the original location.

The new space is in an event center, meaning much more space for retail; the business graduated from 14,000 square feet (still nothing to scoff at) to 18,000 for retail and 5,200 for events.

Nature's Treasures event center interior A photo from early in the setup shows how much room there is to fill at the event center.Photo courtesy of Nature's Treasures

The grand opening will also celebrate Nature's Treasures' 25th year of being in business. It'll feature 30 vendors selling everything from jewelry to apothecary blends or offering services like reiki, tarot reading, energy work, and other eclectic spiritual and wellness modalities.

There will be presentation by "Austin's Crystal Whisperer," tours of the new space, and giveaways including a large heart-shaped amethyst geode valued at more than $900, per a press release. The food truck Juli's Tacos will also be at the event.

A walkthrough video on Instagram gives a preview of the space during a similar event.

See on Instagram

This is far from the only chance to attend a vendor event at Nature's Treasures. It hosts a monthly metaphysical and holistic fair, a biannual jewelry bazaar, and a variety of workshops and other smaller events.

The grand opening is scheduled for 11 am to 5 pm on January 25 and 26, according to Instagram posts. The event is free to attend, and the location has free parking.

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