Opt for Optimism

Frost Bank warms hearts and cold noses at Austin Eastciders pup party

What's better than dogs and cider? Nothing, but free stuff and the spirit of optimism sure come close. CultureMap and Frost Bank recently stopped by the inaugural Pup-a-palooza party at Austin Eastciders to hand out cool swag, Frost cash cards, and a special surprise from Emancipet.

The animal-focused nonprofit supplied vouchers for free vet visits and info about its affordable pet-services clinic, while jolly CultureMap elves gifted guests with the other prizes.

Attendees of the two- and four-legged variety showed up to snag treats, pose for pictures with Santa, and drink mulled cider and Eastciders' seasonal and year-round brews.

The Frost cash cards were distributed with the intent to #frostitforward and do a nice deed for someone else. Upon receiving her cash card, one guest promptly turned around and presented it to the party's co-sponsor, Austin Pets Alive!, turning it into a donation that will help the nonprofit rescue animals on the euthanasia list.

This festive, furry visit was the latest in a series of pop-ups that are helping Austinites show generosity and spread optimism. It's all part of CultureMap's partnership with Frost Bank and in celebration of our comprehensive CultureMap Charity Guide, which is your one-stop destination for area nonprofits and charities.

CultureMap and Frost Bank will be hosting more pop-ups in 2019, surprising and delighting folks across the state. Want to know where we might show up next? Follow along on Instagram and Twitter for hints about our next stop.

Dominick Flores, Bella, and Veronica Pecero.

Photo by Shelley Neuman

Dominick Flores, Bella, and Veronica Pecero.

promoted charity-guide fundraisers pets charity

eat your greens

Austin is the 9th best U.S. city for vegans and vegetarians, new study finds

Photo courtesy of Chris Praetzel

Restaurants like Fabrik make vegan life in Austin interesting.

Austin may be home to some of the best barbecue in the city (even if some disagree) — but the Texas capital also has a growing reputation in vegan and vegetarian fare.

More plant-based restaurants are opening their doors in 2023, expanding an already solid list of vegan eateries throughout the city. And with ACL right around the corner, it's important to know where the closest vegan eats are so you're not left scrambling to find a good meal in the heat.

With that said, Austin still has some room for improvement to keep vegans full and satisfied after ranking No. 9 in WalletHub's "Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians" report for 2023.

The study evaluated 100 cities based on grocery affordability; diversity of and accessibility to vegan and vegetarian restaurants, farmer's markets, and community gardens; and other lifestyle factors.

Austin specifically had a high affordability ranking with the fifth-lowest cost of groceries for vegetarians out of all 100 cities in the ranking. Laredo (No. 1), Corpus Christi (No. 2), San Antonio (No. 3), and Louisville, Kentucky (No. 4) were all ahead.

As for the highest percentage of restaurants serving vegetarian options, the two North Texas cities of Irving and Plano tied with three non-Texas cities: Henderson, Nevada, Gilbert, Arizona, and Mesa, Arizona. All these made No. 1.

However, that doesn't mean the shift to embrace vegan and vegetarian cuisine in Austin isn't notable enough. Earlier in 2023, a popular Brazilian steakhouse chain "beefed" up (or down) its menu with more plant-based options in an effort to expand its customer base. And in June, venerated vegan staple and former CultureMap Tastemakers winner Counter Culture reopened as a food trailer in the back patio of Tweedy’s Bar in Central Austin.

Austin was the only Texas city to make it into the top 10. The remaining nine contenders are mostly located in West Coast states typically expected to be seen in a report on plant-based eating: California, Oregon, and Washington. On the opposite coast are two additional cities that made the list: Orlando and Miami, Florida (No. 3 and No. 8, respectively). Phoenix, Arizona (No. 5), is the only non-coastal outlier.

The top 10 most vegetarian- and vegan-friendly cities in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – Portland, Oregon
No. 2 – Los Angeles, California
No. 3 – Orlando, Florida
No. 4 – San Diego, California
No. 5 – Phoenix, Arizona
No. 6 – San Francisco, California
No. 7 – Seatt