Austin & Aspen (Kinda): Spartan Race

This post brought to you by Spartan Race. All opinions are 100% mine.

Sort of like the Spartan 300 I used to take on with CrossFit, Spartan Race is a new revolutionary obstacle course—but with a twist—they give you a training protocol.

From beginner trail racers and mud run participants to hardcore warriors, tough guys and marathon runners, everyone comes out to test themselves on the insane obstacle races. There are three levels: Sprint, Super, and Beast. Spartan Race was created with the idea that working out is not always torturous … Spartan Race’s goal is simple: to get you off your couch, throw you in the mud & trails, and feed you one tough endurance event day that will be the adrenalin rush of your life.

Spartan Race provides its participants with a daily workout, a weekly newsletter, and inspiring blogs that will help them get from the couch to the finish line within 45 days. It really is as simple as signing up, showing up, and never ever giving up.

Spartan Race will be in Colorado at Fort Carson May 5th & 6th and in Texas in Burnet May 19th & 20th.

You will understand what it means to be a Spartan at the finish line …

For frequently asked questions and answers check out: spartanrace.com/spartan-race-obstacle-course-faq.html / To register: spartanrace.com

Austin: Spotlight Party at La Sombra

The Octopus Club will be hosting Spotlight Parties around Austin for 2011, and the first event is at La Sombra Bar & Grill on Burnet Rd. TONIGHT! The night will be an amazing mix of FREE food, music, fashion, and beauty. DJ Johnny Bravo spinning music while Estilo showcases the hottest fashions of the season. To top it off, Endlessbeauty.com makeup goddess Brandi McCormick will be beautifying all the models!!

January 19 at 6 pm at La Sombra on Burnet (4800 Burnet Road).

The event is FREE but asking for a donation at the door. Everything raised at the door goes to the Paul Kirby Emergency Assistance fund, which provides aid to Austin citizens living with HIV/AIDS.

For more, click to the facebook event page.

To check out B’s work, I’m partial to my own Kate Hudson makeover in her hands:

Kate Hudson Smokey Eyes Makeup Tutorial

Austin: Grand Opening of Dancers Shape TODAY!

Dancers Shape opens TODAY in the recently completed mixed-use project at 5350 Burnet Road (by the Hat Creek that was the Arby’s), Dancers Shape is founded by former Radio City Rockette and UT Alum Jennifer McCamish, who developed her signature Dancers Shape class, combining modified elements from all forms of exercise that dancers use to maintain their shape and fitness, including ballet, yoga, Pilates, and traditional circuit training.

 

I cannot wait to try it! I mean, you’ve gotta trust a former ROCKETTE, right?

Other classes will include non-traditional Pilates, yoga and dance-inspired stretching techniques designed to strengthen, tone and sculpt the body. These movements are incorporated with the principle of overload, interval training, and polished off with mindful movement and joint stabilization to achieve maximum results in the least amount of time in any of the Dancers Shape classes, all of which aim to create lean, flexible muscles.

Like the uber-popular Barre3 or Physique 57 classes utilized by celebs, Dancers Shape also uses a ballet barre and a wood sprung floor.

 

Grand Opening specials last through December 31, 2010 and include $30 unlimited classes for a week or $100 unlimited classes for a month. Learn more at www.dancersshape.com!

How gorgeous is this studio?

 

Designer Clearance House

Driving down Burnet Road the other day, I was stopped in my tracks by the Designer Clearance House. This rarely happens to me, but who am I to turn down Designer clearances? I turn my car around and pop into the little shop to be greeted by a friendly man named Lalo. I ignore him in favor of the shoes … Sam Edelman flats, Loeffler Randall heels, Dolce Vita for $39?! Another section with shoes for just $59?! Then, another section with shoes for … well, more, but still deeply discounted?! So exciting.

Plus, they have clothes! All of their clothes come from an exclusive deal with Houston upscale retailer Tootsie’s and are offered at an astounding 75% off of retail price. There was a stunning red Badgley Mischka strapless dress for a mere $112! Lalo told me all about how they started as an appointment-only designer shoe clearance house, but then they made the deal with Tootsie’s, and now they have a permanent home (this one, on Burnet) with real store hours: Mon-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-6 & Sun 12-4.

And then the sweet man said to me, “We just have a lot of fun. We love it.”

A retailer who just loves selling shoes on the cheap and fancy schmancy dresses for super-marked-down prices? Dear Lalo, we’re going to have a lot of fun together, and we’re definitely going to love it.

From their website, written by Lalo’s daughter-in-law, Spring:

A recent arrival at the store is designer and couture apparel at HUGE discounts! We currently have the following clothing brand (to name a few): Fabulous party dresses from Nicole Miller, fun summer shifts from Diane VonFurstenburg, loungewear from Juicy Couture, street wear and party dresses from BCBG, separates by Elie Tahari, mother-of-the-bride suits by Armani, occasion dresses from Kay Unger, and all sorts of goodies from Alice and Olivia, Trina Turk, Theory, Robert Rodriguez and Nanette Lepore.

Right now, we have shoes from Loeffler Randall, D&G, Tori Burch, Cole Haan, Moschino, Michael Kors, Bolo, Ashley Deerborn, Guiseppe Zanotti, London Sole, Martinez Valero, Rafe, Dolce Vita and MANY more great brands.

Go check it out; I know I need to get back!!

More Free CrossFit Workouts

But this time at CrossFit Central: The initial free workout offerings FILLED UP ALREADY, this is nine 30-person classes, so they opened  up three more to new clients only:

A New Free Workout Time Slot has opened for New Clients. If you are new to CrossFit Central or have never been to a program – you can reserve a spot in these workouts! These workouts are capped at only 30 people RSVP to Nicole Holstrom, nicoleholstrom@crossfitcentral.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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by sending an email with which days and times you would like to attend!

Monday, December 29th – 7:00am
Tuesday, December 30th – 7:00am
Wednesday, December 31st – 7:00am

WOW. CrossFit is going wild. Sign up!

More free cupcakes! UPDATE: not free

We know I’m not a huge Hey! Cupcake fan–not that I hate them, I just don’t think they’re the best–but we also know that I AM a huge FREE cupcake fan. So how could I let you miss out on the Hey! Cupcake North Grander Opening (since it’s been open for a bit now) party tomorrow?

There will be live music, games, and FREE cupcakes! Festivities start at noon and will go until the cupcakes run out. (nope, no cupcakes)

Oh, and to my commentor who accused me of both smoking a cigarette and liking Taco Bell’s queso because I don’t like Hey! Cupcake, let me just tell you that a) I’ll have a Sugar Mama’s vs. Hey! Cupcake blind taste throwdown any day; and b) smoking and Taco Bell are both disgusting.

UPDATE: Cupcakes are NOT free.

Hey! Cupcake 2nd Location on Burnet Rd.

While I don’t personally care for Hey! Cupcake’s cupcakes (I MUCH prefer Sugarmama’s), in the interest of keeping up with the cupcake trend I feel obliged to point this out.

Hey, Cupcake! opened a second location on Saturday, and this location is in an actual store rather than a silver Airstream on South Congress. But don’t worry, owner Wes Hurt took apart and reassembled his signature silver airstream trailer, so as not to lose the Hey! Cupcake signature feel. This location also features cupcake-inspired clothing by Austin designer Chelsea Fullerton, which I’m not so sure about myself.

5530 Burnet Road.: 9am-10 pm Tuesdays-Fridays, noon-10pm Saturdays and 1-9pm Sundays.

Athenian Grill (Re)Opens Downtown

More food torture for me: Apparently everyone loved the old Athenian Grill (closed for about 2 years now?) and is super-excited about the new one opening up at 6th and Congress, across from Ruth’s Chris. This Tuesday was its first day back in business, and the folks over at chowhound are already all over it, saying the food is just as good but is $1-$2 more expensive than it used to be. Um, some call this inflation. Anyway, they have delicious Greek/Mediterranean food, according to almost everyone who went, except the vegetarian, who was nostalgic for a veggie dish they no longer have on the menu.

Speaking of Ruth’s Chris, I heard rumors today of a crazy-awesome happy hour, with $5 martinis and 1/2 price appetizers. Sound like every other happy hour to you? Yes, but apparently the $5 martinis are made of anything in the house (not wells, ahem, Roaring Fork), so you can snag that Belvedere or Perfect 10 martini. Then, the appetizers are the regular Ruth’s Chris apps, but at half price. The friends who spread these rumors have been hitting quite a few of the happy hours lately, and they say Ruth’s Chris is their #1 right now. High praise!

Oh, and back to Mediterranean food, another friend was telling me about Pars Deli, in the shopping center at 183 & Burnet. He says it’s really good too, and the yelp reviews on it echo that account, though they do mention that it’s a bit weird. Weird? Like Keep Austin Weird or dirty weird or what? Guess it goes on the list of places to check out!

[Master Cleanse update: I’m officially done with the Cleanse, and I’m in the ease-off stage. So I drank only juices today–love you Daily Juice–and will have some soup and possibly some raw fruits and veggies tomorrow. Yay!]

Review: Phil’s Icehouse

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m way behind the times. Phil’s Icehouse caused quite a stir when it came on the Burnet Road scene (at the very beginning of a Burnet Road scene even existing) because of its mini burgers, funky decor, shared space with Amy’s Ice Creams, and playscape out front.

Today I shared lunch there with my dad, and it was awesome. I ordered a veggie burger with avocado on a wheat bun. The veggie burger was crisp, fresh, and tasty. The avocado tasted like guacamole, and was delicious. And the wheat bun? Melty, thick-cut bread, hearty with a hint of sweetness … I liked it so much I took the top off of my veggie burger and ate the burger with one piece of bread, choosing to eat the second piece after my meal like dessert. (disclaimer: I often eat my sandwiches or burgers with only one piece of bread, otherwise I don’t feel like I get the full flavor of what’s inside. But rarely do I eat the piece of bread I removed!) This is the kind of bread worth spending a day’s calorie allotment on.

I also stole some sweet potato french fries from Dad’s mixed basket, and they were excellent. Perfectly crispy, seasoned to allow the natural flavor to come through. Plus, they’re much better for you than regular french fries (as far as deep-fried items go). Dad enjoyed his burger, though I don’t think he’ll change from his regular burger spot. In any case, the atmosphere is light and airy, a little quirky, a little kitschy … overall, a great place to go!