had great fun doing our crafts while sipping on some in house cocktails. chill vibe - great way to…read morespend a few hours with friends or a partner!

I came here for my sister's birthday because we wanted to do something a little more interactive…read morethan just going out to dinner. Funny enough, even though it's called Upstairs Circus, I kept calling it "Uptown Circus" for some reason and still do. My sister had been here once when she first moved to Austin, but it had been a while, so she was happy to go again. We tried to make a reservation for a Monday but found out they're closed that day unless it's a private event. So we ended up booking a Sunday evening during their Sangria Sundays event. Signing up online was quick and easy--no payment required upfront. When we arrived, we were seated at a table and given the option to sit side by side or across from each other. They handed us a laminated flyer with all the available project options, ranging from easy (about an hour) to more challenging projects that can take the full three-hour session. There was a good mix of household items (like coasters and magnetic shelves), jewelry, handbags, clutches, accessories, and even a pricier custom Nike shoe painting project. The sample projects looked very professional, but the final result really depends on your artistic skills and how focused you are during the session. My sister and I decided to pick different projects--she chose a handbag clutch, and I went with coasters. We got all our materials and instructions. One thing I noticed: this kind of activity is probably better suited for people who don't have a ton to catch up on while working. Since my sister and I hadn't seen each other for weeks, we were trying to talk and catch up, which made it harder for me to focus on the project. Some steps were time-sensitive, so juggling both conversation and crafting was a bit stressful. For my coaster project, I initially planned to use a stencil and transfer paper to trace a design, but it didn't work very well. I ended up switching to a simple two-color block design just to make sure I could finish in time. My sister's project was a bit more advanced--she had to do leather hole punching and threading--but she managed to finish and loved how her clutch turned out. Since it was Sangria Sunday, you get one complimentary sangria or mocktail with your reservation, and they keep a card on file if you want to order more drinks. I got a spicy cocktail that actually had really good flavor, even though I didn't finish it. Overall, this is a fun and unique activity if you want to do something creative with a friend or group. I'd recommend it more if you're looking to spend quality time doing something together rather than having a deep conversation--because focusing on the project definitely takes some attention. My sister was happy with her finished product, and I liked mine even if it turned out simpler than planned. It's a cool idea for a birthday, date night, or just a different kind of outing.

We just saw this circus. They're so good. We have seen a few other touring shows with a different…read morecompany. This one is much better. They had better stunts and nonstop performance. I walked out feeling it was worth it! I would definitely watch them again if they return.

This was such a fun experience walking through the park and seeing all the holiday lights and…read moredisplays! We even got to enjoy the cocktail samples at Dottie May's - my favorite was the Holiday Hot Cocoa! I wish there was a way to circle back (from the end of the trail to the food trucks at the beginning) after seeing all the lights/displays. We didn't want to walk the trail with food so we waited until the end then realized we had to walk the entire way back in reverse because there was no pathway across. We definitely got our steps in that evening!

The Trail of Lights is a true Austin tradition! My brother happened to be visiting, and I was able…read moreto share the experience with him. The Trail of Lights celebrates the unique spirit and people that make Austin special. It features an amazing more than 2 million lights illuminating the park, 90 lighted holiday trees, and more than 70 other holiday displays. The dazzling lights make a beautiful backdrop against the city skyline. Featured are beautiful holiday scenes, including Candy Cane Lane and displays with beloved characters such Cinderella, Snow White and the 7 Dwarves, SpongeBob Square Pants, Humpty Dumpty, Dr. Seuss, Winnie the Pooh to name a few.. There are photo opportunities for pictures, posing inside a picture frame and a wreath. Of course, a family with kids can't resist a picture with Santa. There is a Santa's workshop where you can get a free toy. A uniquely Austin display is an armadillo promoting the Statesman Capital 10K, the biggest 10K in Texas that takes place in April. There's a Texas flag, guitars, and a Zilker Square display. HEB has a book library and gives away free children's books, and HEBuddy is there for photos. The event even includes equal representation for Chanukah with a dreidel and menorah . Of course, it wouldn't be Austin without musical performances. Every night À different band plays. Nakia, who was on The Voice, was playing on the night I went. Very entertaining! HISTORY The trail of Lights, sponsored by HEB, began as a small gathering in 1965 known as the "Yule Fest," a gift to the city of Austin from Austin Parks and Recreation Department. It has now grown to be a community-wide celebration of the unique Austin spirit. It is one of the three largest events in Austin and receives national accolades while remaining a deeply cherished local tradition

I went to the 2014 Austin Carnaval an event virgin and left a bonafide Brasilero woman!…read more From the walk to the Palmer Events Center to the Carnaval itself to the VIP lounge, the whole experience was a colorful blur of gyrating painted and feathered nudity to samba beats and boozey revelry! On the way from the parking lot to the Palmer Event Center, we just had to follow the colorful and scantily clad masses to find the fun! And though I expected an out of control night of pure debauchery based on previous reviews, the night was enjoyably tame. We got there around the 10pm mark and the party was already in full swing with the samba dancers and drummers showing off their mad crazy skills! From the minute we walked in the door our asses didn't stop shaking til they hit the cold leather of the car seat 3hrs later! I loved how open and friendly everyone was! Especially those in full on crazy and fabulous costumes! We watched the "parade" from the stands and then when the dance floor opened up joined a conga line right to the front of the stage where we shook it like a polaroid picture! The entertainment was just amazing and the energy permeated and flowed through the gleefully sweaty crowd! It wasn't nearly as awful as I imagined it would be in the crowd, it was packed, but not claustrophobically so. And, to my surprise, there was not nearly the amount of nudity I expected...I mean bare bootys and boobies abounded, but in a tasteful and non-gratuitous way. I ended up backstage because of my VIP pass because no one could tell me how to get to the "lounge", but that ended up being an awesome experience! Needless to say, I will be returning to Carnaval next year...and honestly, if you can't be in Rio, this is the next best thing! Braaaazilll ATX style baby!!

I know it's an event but it's annual sooo if anyone is curious about this party and does a little…read moreresearch here, let me shed some light (it's okay, I won't illuminate the darkest corners!). Imagine if a gay bar Halloween party and a strip club Halloween party were to have a baby....no, imagine if Mardi Gras had a super sexy, blatantly flirtatious Latino cousin.....no, imagine that dream you have with all the sexy demons and angels and they all want to have sex with you. Yeah, put all that together and you can get an idea. I've been going to this party for almost 15 years and I never get tired of it. Not only is it about the costumes and the flirting, but it's also about the incredible music. Every year they get a nationally known Brazilian Samba band to play the stage, but lately they have also used Austin's own Academicos da Opera which I think is even better cause they get right down on the floor in a huge drum circle. This music is intoxicating (which is great cause it's damn hard to get a drink here---lines too long). You cannot stop dancing and at the end of the night you get that all over warm body relaxation that you get after a great workout or even better sex. But if you are an exhibitionist or a voyeur or if you are not afraid of a large crowd of these, then this is your party. To get anywhere in the crowd, you have to get in a conga line and next thing you know, you are swept away with a bunch of fun-loving strangers to god knows where. And costumes! I am always awed by the work that goes into this event. From feathers and beads to leather and chains. Drag queens and dominatrixes. Fairies and well, fairies. Body painting to body stockings. It's all here and it doesn't mind being seen and photographed and danced with. Sigh. I always have a bit of post-Carnaval depression. So, don't be scerd. You are really missing out if you let your fears hold you back. True of Carnaval and of life.

Loved this experience. This place has definitely been around for awhile and I can see why. Got…read morethere early to scope out the location and upon entering you provide your name and they provide a paper to give upon entering the show room. There was a group on the patio area where you can order tacos, I did not partake. Then the bar area inside. You can take drinks into the showroom as well. Scoped out the venue which was bigger than anticipated and really enjoyed the fish tank TVs. So fun! The show was entertaining and up to date with references all relevant to the current times. Everyone on stage was great and their chemistry can be seen. The audience was laughing 99% of the time and the show went back fast! I'd totally go back for a local Austin night out with good laughs.

Esther Follies is an Austin staple!…read more They've been performing for 50 years, providing amazing entertainment for all guests attending their shows. They do a mix of comedy, magic, music , and just overall great entrainment for their shows. It's mainly themed around local and world politics + the LGBTQ community. Tickets are approximately $40. The show is about 90 minutes, with a 5 min break halfway through. They have a bar on site, and a taqueria that's connected to their building as well. Highly recommend the taqueria, it's authentic and delicious! Absolutely recommend for locals, visitors, and those who just want to enjoy a great show in the best city in the country!

Fantastic place to catch rock concerts or old classic films. But be aware of their insane security…read moreto get in and very high drink and snack prices. You won't successfully sneak anything in, so I always grab happy hour nearby if i must have a drink for a show. Also a great place to catch film premieres during SXSW.

We came here to see Justin Willman, a magic comedy guy whose special we saw streaming Jan…read more The place was late to fill up and never quite fully filled which was weird as when we got tickets it was already close to filling up. He does a family friendly show so there were a lot of people there with kids, Full families, moms, dads, grandparents. We were one of the few without kids. The staff was very friendly at the entrance, the bar, and when seating. The place is pretty big and has upstairs and downstairs seating as well as a bar on several levels. Two points that did bring the visit a little down. The seating, you are packed in like sardines. No room to stretch even a little, you bump against the stranger next to you or them into you. It is almost worse then an airplane. Two no handrails on several stairs which are also uneven. I have some ongoing spine and foot pain and it caused me issues but I saw several other people struggling and one almost falling themselves. Had it been just me or maybe one other person that would be bad enough but as several people struggled that is a huge safety issue and should be fixed. The ushers helped when they could but sometimes they were helping others and didn't see it happen. Still it was a fun time, if a bit cramped. The staff is great and I love the history but that also means it is very outdated and not very comfy to sit for an hour or more, especially with no intermission.

Our go to movie spot since Alamo Lakeline doesn't have reclining seats and a lackluster food menu…read morefor us. We enjoy the full bar, decent dining of brunch offerings and solid entrees that aren't ridiculously priced. I also really enjoy the QR ordering style for our party and ensuring that we can order without having to call over a server if we need anything. We like the clean atmosphere and the good sound movie quality in screens, no complaints from us and the rewards system is decent and enough to keep us coming back!

I'm not sure what is happening to the dinning at this movie theater. If you look back, I've always…read morehad great experiences with their food menu. I ordered just a medium popcorn. $8.99. Can't really mess that up. Bag wasn't full to the top. Popcorn was cold and I asked for butter, there was no butter. Disappointing second time in a row.

I've been working with Epic for years, and they always deliver. I've typically worked with them to…read morecontract with musicians and DJs, and I have never been disappointed. Epic does a great job of finding talent in my budget. They also do a great job finding talent that hits the mood just right. I recommend Epic to all my work colleagues, and none of them have been disappointed. Epic is great!

I am a musician and DJ for epic entertainment. I have absolutely loved their gigs. Everyone has…read morebeen super nice and respectful to me at their events. I would highly recommend working for them!

I wanted to give just 3 stars for that night that Madonna performed and she made us wait for…read moreseveral hours after show time to start and turned off the air conditioning for her throat (since for health reasons they should have warned us this would be happening so the rest of us who weren't Madonna but had our own health issues could plan accordingly - for instance I had a kidney stint in at the time and needed to drink a ton of fluids that night cause I was sweating like crazy and getting dehydrated). However some them I've seen Ice Cube and some other shows and they were fun...so I threw an extra star back your way dude. Ok Wayne? OK Garth? The seats are a bit tight here so eat a salad before you come. And drinks start at $17 for a beer and more for cocktails (you can get a margarita for $26). So leave your credit cards at home and you won't get tempted. Buying drinks here is insane in the membrane. But they do have a few restaurants with nice vibes. See you back there in a couple weeks for Demi Lovato!! Maybe you'll get another review.

The Moody center is a great place to see a live concert. We were there for Stevie Nicks, which was…read morean incredible show! Our seats offered an amazing view, and the acoustics are fantastic. There are many options for food and drinks throughout the venue. I feel like everyone could find something that satisfies their tastes. The restrooms are large and have always been clean when I have been in there. The staff is great. I'm so helpful when you're trying to find your seats, or which door to use to get to where you're going.

If I could bottle the feeling of being a weird little kid who just wandered into something magical,…read moreMuseum of the Weird would be it. This place might honestly be my favorite spot I've ever visited. I love oddities, and they are surprisingly hard to find all together like this. Walking through here felt like running away to the circus in the best way. Every room has something that makes you stop and stare. Shrunken heads, two-headed specimens, medical oddities, freak show history, UFO lore, Movie props and replicas! and so much more. I appreciated that it felt more like a cabinet of curiosities than a haunted house vibe. The exhibits are thoughtfully laid out, and there's a genuine feeling of love for weird history here. It doesn't feel cheesy. You can take your time, read signs, and really soak it all in if you want, or just wander around wide eyed and delighted like me. If you're into oddities, curiosities, circus history, strange science, or just being a little weird inside, this place is an absolute must while you're downtown. I left smiling and already wanting to go back. Honestly, if this is your thing at all, you'll get it immediately. One small but important thing to note, especially for the rest of my disabled community: there is no bathroom on site. While they do let you leave and come back if needed, that still means stepping out and trying to find a restroom on a very busy downtown Austin street. It was honestly really stressful and upsetting for me. However...that didn't ruin the experience for me because I love it so much, but it's definitely something to be aware of and the only reason this lands at 4 stars instead of 5.

If you like fun, kitschy spots like Ripley's Believe It Or Not or Wax Museums, you'll enjoy the…read moreMuseum of the Weird. Weird vibes on 10! Currently, adults are $13 and kids under 8 are $9. We were warmly greeted when we walked into this cute shop packed full of trinkets. So much to look at and I wanted to buy it all! The couple behind the desk was very friendly & conversational, seemed like a nice pair! The museum itself isn't too big but it's chocked full of exhibits and explanations. I love Fortean fascinating museums so if you too like the strange & unexplained, you'll enjoy this. They also have a small wax museum section with some classic movie monsters. Plus they encourage photos here, so ya know this yelp girlie loved that! I had fun here and it'll take you less than an hour to go through. Cute spot to pop into on 6th Street! Keep Austin Weird, y'all!