The Blanton Museum of Art is delightful way to spend a few hours in admiration of art. The Blanton…read moreMuseum of Art complex is divided into three main areas; namely; 1) ticketing office and gift shop, 2) the stand alone building and 3) the galleries. Important to note...entry into The Blanton Museum of Art is free on Tuesdays or as a member and discounted if you attend UT or a senior citizen. Getting a ticket gets you into the house and galleries was a pretty straightforward process. The first impression is the towering 3-story 12 "petals", which look like white lillies to me. They have hundreds of holes that cast a cool shadow beneath them. Fun fact: When it rains in the petals, water funnels to to an underground collection system. According the museum docent, the stained glass building was designed by Ellsworth Kelly is supposed to be a place of contemplation...similar to a church except different as she is an atheist. Similar remnants of churches are present...stained glass windows, a semi redwood cross at the center of the building (not fully formed but certainly the focal point of the room) and simple black and white paintings. The Blanton Museum of Art, founded in 1963, is a shared museum between Austin and the University of Austin. Their 22K+ art pieces include modern and contemporary American and Latin American artworks. In addition, they also feature Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings, prints and drawings. Inside the galleries the staircase area is a work of art itself. The collections are breathtaking, contemplative and captivating. Such a fun way to spend the afternoon...

Blantons is great break from the sun, and a small taste of a variety of classical and contemporary…read moreart. The staff were super friendly. Griffin was a fantastic behind the desk guy. Samantha and Abby were nice docents. Each said hello, were welcoming, and shared their favorite pieces, and spoke competently about the art they were watching over. I got the opportunity to see various immersive works. Ellesworth Kelly has his own building of stained glass images, black and white tiles, and a male totem. My favorite work was in the modern section, but it looked like a classical piece. Pilgrims by Coronel. It looked like a bunch of guys in big hats collaged together - but it's just folks walking by each other. It was a good mix of various eras and modes of art. The light was warm, but not overpowering. And the A/C is working. In the middle of the summer, that last point is a must. As one of the Blue Star Museums, it sponsors a service member and up to 5 other folks entrance into the museum to see the exhibits. It's easily a great hideout from the heat and free for military during the summer. Recommend.

Thea museum is fun. A quick walk-through, but it's really fun. So I do recommend it's not so big to…read moreactually take your time and read the plaques and take a lot of photos. Before you enter the museum here in this little gift shop so you are able to buy little interesting things if you wanted to. And then as you're going through the museum, you end up in another gift shop so you have two opportunities to buy weird objects. But we did enjoy it if we ever end up in Texas again we would honestly do it again

It is something to do when it's hot. The AC works except in the wax room. It smells awful!!!…read moreThey encourage you to take pics with King Kong which involves getting on knees and climbing up thru the hand. Well my dress had a dark brown wet stain on it as I stood up. Looked like poop -it wasn't but it sure looked like it. Bathroom out of order but they let me in and stain still there. So $25 for 2 to get in and I possibly ruined a brand new dress. Wasn't impressed at all by the place.

If you are in Marble Falls or even close by, you should absolutely take some time out of your…read moreschedule and go to Museo Benini. It's a small space packed full of art with the room to appreciate each piece. You're free to wander around and enjoy the variety of paintings and sculptures. It's all well kept and organized. I noticed they had several events planned for the month, and while husband and I went on a regular day I can imagine that the events are full of creatives and vibrant energy. We were allowed to take one of the golf carts and roam the grounds to look at the sculptures outside. The vehicle was a blessing since we went during a Texas August. The area isn't huge and can definitely be traveled by on foot if you're able and the temperature is better.

The Benini museum is spectacular! You do need to schedule a tour as there are not regular hours…read morethat they are open. But the tour is fantastic and a great way to learn about Benini's work and his genius. Everyone is very kind and gracious. It's a great group activity too.

This was a lot of fun! Read the instructions and follow the arrows if you can't figure out what to…read moredo. There was also employees walking around that could help when needed. I personally think this is better for teens to adults than little kids. You'll be taking lots of pictures!

Overall, I felt the price didn't justify the experience. I paid $72.20 for two adults, and the…read moremuseum was about the size of a small store. I would have been comfortable paying around $10 per person at most. The website claims the experience takes about one hour, but we walked through the entire facility in 10-15 minutes. It was very short-lived and left us disappointed. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend visiting at the current price.

Very unique! If you are going to Austin, make arrangements for a tour. This house has been…read morefeatured in a lot of different books and magazines.

Keep Austin Weird is one of those phrases that is synonymous with Austin (in addition to barbecue)…read more There is so much interesting art here in Austin that you should consider looking into when visiting Austin, with Casa Neverlandia being one of them. Casa Neverlandia is a three story, colorful home located behind Goodwill Baptist Church, that was created by James Talbot, or as he referred to himself as "Talbot" when we met him for a private tour of his home. Casa Neverlandia originally started out as a one story home built in the early 1900's. Mr. Talbot purchased this home and started to transform it into what you see now in my photos and what you find online. According to Mr. Talbot, he grew up in a military family, traveling all around the world and living in some unusual places that includes a treehouse in Honduras. He has a college degree in architecture and has always been fascinated with building things, as you can see with his home today. To him, he builds this home for himself to reflect upon his spiritual side but also include some unique things for his physical needs, as he lives rather a green lifestyle. My husband and I, along with our little girl dog (yes Mr. Talbot allowed for us to bring our little dog with us) met Mr. Talbot outside of his home on a Sunday afternoon. We were lucky to be the only couple, as another couple was supposed to come but was told the date just didn't work with their schedule. Please note that it cost $15 per person for this tour and you can contact Mr. Talbot via phone or email to schedule a tour. At the front entrance of his home are numerous of doorbells, xylophones and bells. I believe there is over 40 of these things but Mr. Talbot says he can never have enough. He describes the mosaic tiles outside of the home, the snake, the outdoor patio seating area with the clouds element and so forth. Then inside, we see his living room with a beautiful and inviting fireplace and pit to help radiate heat for the first floor, indoor seating area that is meant to be an air alter with cool colors of green and a unique bookcase. We see some current artwork that he has for sale (no obligation to buy) that includes gorgeous hand beaded work and other things and then make our way to the small music room. Next, the kitchen has a lot of function to it more so than just design. Then we make our way up stairs. On the 2nd floor is a room that has a Thai like theme with the bamboo wall panels and red lacquered beams. This room has high ceilings and utilizes natural lighting since there is no lights in this room. Mr. Talbot says this is the room for parties and entertainment for guests. Then up one more floor is Mr. Talbot's room, which was featured on numerous of TV shows, magazines and books. From his bedroom, that has a safari theme to it, you can see a glimpse of downtown Austin. We were then lead to his bathroom where he is currently working on a bath tub with some kind of ocean wave like theme. Being that he has a background in architecture, he is able to create the structure of things the way he wants it. From his bedroom, we walk across a narrow plank bridge to his tree house or a tower. Climb a very narrow ladder and we are on the top of that tower and see great views of Austin. We eventually take a few narrow ladders down to the bottom, now in his backyard. From here, he takes us into his studio (built in the early 90's) and shows us what he is currently working on, which looks like a large clam shell. He uses soda cans that he has collected around Austin to decorate the shell. He also shows us this ocean like mural that will go with this clam shell. Then we eventually make our way outside. He tells us that he saves the rain water in large barrels, as he considers himself camping in his own home. He dresses up or down according to the weather and has a very low electric bill each month and water bill. Mr. Talbots has told us on the tour that he doesn't consider himself to be done with Case Neverlandia, as he is always building and changing things. And said that Casa Neverlandia may be different the next time we come back to Austin for another tour. Our tour lasted about 75 minutes, but we did make small talk with Mr. Talbot throughout. It was well worth our time to come out here and check out Casa Neverlandia and hope you will consider it too, especially if you are looking for something off the beaten path. You can see some of Mr. Talbot's artworks around Austin and a few other things in other states. Casa Neverlandia truly was a highlight of our visit to Austin and am so glad we were able to get a tour. Again as mentioned, it cost $15 per person for a tour and you can call Mr. Talbot at (512) 442-7613 or email him at talbot@talbotworld.com to inquire for a tour.

This was a fun interactive time, that went by really quick…read more There is minimal staff here, 2 at the register and 1 person at the bar. I loved the drink while you art concept and definitely got a drink, which was a good amount of tasty and strong. By far we all loved the first lighting art display the best. The kiddos loved running through it, the changing lights and the music. The other exhibits were less interactive. We enjoyed them as adults, however, the kiddos passed through most of them without interest. The selection was good, but we craved more once we got to the end. I was able to make my drink last the entire time we were there. That being said, the adult prices were fair, however I would not charge children under 12. Overall we had a great time escaping the Texas heat. So if you're looking for a nice adult escape I recommend this thoughtful art space.

Very cool art gallery full of fun and interesting exhibits! They were interactive and immersive…read morewhile maintaining a calm atmosphere. I liked the Submergence exhibit since it had many pretty glowing lights that hung from the ceiling. Great for pictures and videos. Some other exhibits were engaging with movements too. It really involves your various senses with multiple sounds, sights, and things you can touch. You can view at your own pace and no one rushes you. It took us around 2-3 hours to go through everything. There's a wide selection of different installations, so I feel like it's worth the $25 value. There is also a bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy. Book your tickets in advance as they have limited spots per time slot so it is not cramped. There's a kiosk near the entrance to check in and then they will help you get started at the front desk. Lots of free parking in front of the building. What a unique and chill place to bring the family. They really are spaces filled with wonder. They do rotate out the exhibits periodically, so there's always more to see. Overall a great experience and I look forward to coming back to see new installations!

The Balloon Museum in Austin was a decent experience, but it didn't leave a huge impression on me…read more Some of the art installations were creative and visually striking, and it's definitely a great spot for families. There were a lot of interactive exhibits that kids seemed to love. The museum spans a couple of stories, starting on the upper level, with plenty of colorful and immersive spaces that make for great Instagram photos. It's very hands-on, though, so if germs are a concern, this might not be the best pick. Parking was somewhat limited. There's a small one-level garage and some outdoor parking behind the building. The staff were friendly and welcoming, which I appreciated. Admission felt a bit pricey for what you get. It might have been worth it to me if I had children in my group.

Overall good experience. Parking is limited however seems like spots open pretty frequently. Just…read moregive yourself extra time. Entry is kept to the time listed on your ticket. Bought mine online and they do sell them at the venue as well. Once inside there are three maybe four flights of stairs (elevator available too) as you start on the top floor then walk back down. The museum provided some interactive picture spots and stuff for kids. The main ball pit with the light show was pretty fun too. Be careful as the shoe covers make it slippery! They do have traction strips, just take large strides. The VR was my favorite thing, with the last part with the bubbles as second. Took me about 50 minutes to go through and again helped spend the day out of the house. I could see if you had kiddos this would be gunner.

The artist at The Cathedral of Junk recommended this museum. I looked it up and didn't know exactly…read morewhat to expect. When my friend and I arrived at this home nestled on the east side, we were warmly greeted by Scott and Jen. They showed us around their garden and then brought us back to their museum which was located in the back of their property. This museum definitely keeps Austin weird. Jen and Scott eagerly told us stories behind their collections. There was a strand of Willie Nelson's hair, parts from the original Ferris wheel, a taxidermy flamingo head and so much more. Some tips: -You need to schedule a tour on their website. -The suggested donation is $10. They accept cash and Venmo -The museum area gets hot, so dress accordingly. They will be kind enough to offer you fans -parking is on the street by the house

Go here! Bring your friends and family! This small museum, housed in an East Austin family room, is…read morea great collection of oddities, mysteries, and jokes. The exhibits are interpreted by the residents with humor and flexibility to suit the tour-goer. The "Impermanent Collection" is enhanced by special themed exhibits, back yard gardens and art, and a bevy of family pets ( Siamese guppy!!). The museum is supported by your donation or purchase of memorabilia.

So my plan was to originally visit for free because I heard they had an event on the weekend but…read moreThe Contemporary has TWO locations and it was free for the downtown museum only that day. This is Laguna Gloria, and it features sculptures all outdoors. We ended up paying since we were already there. BUT Laguna Gloria is FREE on Thursdays. Other days is $10 pp and if you didn't pay in advance online, they can take payment at the gift shop. Though, I'm not sure how they enforce it because it looks like you can just pass by the gift shop and enter the park. As a former art student, I just wasn't that impressed or intrigued by the art. You have to walk a ways away to visit the next sculpture. They provide a map at the gift shop, but since I'm not good at geographic directions, I just allowed my husband to plan the walking route for us. We got to see all the sculptures (there aren't a lot...15?) In total, we were probably there for less than an hour. I didn't understand some sculptures. I saw a lonely, abandoned light pole covered with spiderwebs and joked to my husband, "look at this artwork!" It turns out, it was actually art because there's a sign next to it introducing the art piece and everything. Awkward. Anyway...appreciated walking around the grounds. My favorite is the crying Miffy fountain, which is one of the first things you see when you enter the grounds. Street parking only (unless you are an art student or staff there).

The Contemporary is an outdoor museum that felt like a mini adventure all in one! We were greeted…read moreand given a map to all the installations on the property. Make sure to bring some sunscreen, water, especially on a sunny/hot day! There were several sculptures/ installations that were in shaded areas, but the sun can be very brutal since you will be outdoors. Not sure if there was parking on the property, but we parked down the hill and walked about 5 mins up.

The best dance studio! Love Beth Ann & her entire staff! They are doing amazing things!!!read more

Thank you PAIYH for sharing a welcoming place to find and feel the joy in dance for so many. Miss…read moreAlex is a unicorn of a human, and an amazing ballet teacher. I popped in the studio earlier today to watch our daughter Kenzie dance tonight. It's refreshing to see a teacher care and share her talent to help foster the next generation of ballerinas. She offers correction, a warm smile while fostering and building good and safe habits, while gently help the girls perfect their technique. PAIYH provides dancers with a safe place to grow; this studio is an amazing gift to our community.