Filed under: Austin Green Living, Austin News and Events, Austin Texas, Things to do in Austin, Visit Austin | Tags: Austin, austin environmental fair, Austin events, Austin TX, kids art tent, old pecan street festival, short film festival in austin, short films
WOW! It’s May already and time, once again, for the Old Pecan Street Festival on 6th Street. Artisans from all over the nation will be at the festival displaying their arts and crafts. In addition to the displays, there will be art classes where you can bring out the artisan in you.
Children (6 to 12) can also explore their talents at the Kids’ Art Tent. Activities will be led by Austinite artist Lindsey Bailey. Lindsey will direct the children in creating colorful arts and craft designs which they can take home. The Kids’ Art Tent is free to all participants. Capital One is sponsoring the Kids Art Tent as a means to educate Austin’s youth and to introduce them to the world of art.
In case your feet may be feeling a little artistic after hearing all the great live music being presented on five stages, you can satisfy their need to express themselves at the free dance classes.
The Old Pecan Street Festival will be honoring the art of filmmaking at the PowerFlicker Short Film Showcase. Texas filmmakers will be presenting a collection of animated, comedy, documentary and narrative films from 3-6 pm on Saturday only as part of the festivities taking place in Austin.
The festival will also be presenting game booths, grilling demonstrations, a petting zoo for kids and a carnival for kids of all ages.
The Old Pecan Street Festival will be very green this year. It is not only honoring and encouraging the arts, but is also honoring and encouraging green living. There is no better way to encourage something than by practical application. A new element to the festival this year will be an Environmental Fair. The Environmental Fair will feature environmentally-friendly artists, educational workshops, organic foods, drinks and locally bottled spring water. Stop by the Transit Makeover booth to receive a free 7-Day bus pass. Transit Makeover will also have their new hybrid bus on display for everyone to check out. Your free bus pass will entitle you to a free drawing for Esther’s Follies tickets. To enter the drawing, you will need to stop by one of the information booths.
One negative side to any festival is its debris. But, that will not be the case at the Old Pecan Street Festival. They have made a real effort to keep trash to a minimum with an aggressive recycling program. When looking to dispose of your trash, be sure to look at the signs above the trash containers. The signs will indicate what type of trash should be disposed of in each particular container, so that it may be recycled properly.
By the way, those of you who are not aware of Austin’s history: the Old Pecan Street Festival is held on 6th Street because 6th Street was originally Pecan Street in the early days of Austin. The festival was named Old Pecan Street to honor Austin’s early days. The Old Pecan Street Festival has been an Austin tradition for over 30 years and entrance to the festival is still free.
Filed under: Austin Green Living, Austin News and Events, Austin Texas, Austin Texas News, Austin Texas Real Estate, Visit Austin | Tags: Austin, Austin TX, Austin Wildlife Habitat Program, Habitat for Wildlife, Schoolyard Habitat, Wildlife-Friendly Garden
In January, I wrote a blog letting you know about Austin’s Habitat for Wildlife program. Today, I want to tell you that the goal of that plan has been accomplished. The City of Austin has officially been named by the National Wildlife Federation as a community wildlife habitat. On March 12th, the City of Austin was awarded its Community Wildlife Habitat certification. The certification grants Austin the honor of being the largest metropolitan city in the nation and the first city in Texas to be certified by the National Wildlife Federation. The honor was received due to the participation of over 900 homes, 15 businesses, 14 parks, 25 schools and four churches that created habitats for Austin’s wildlife
Austin has accomplished its goal to be certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat, but not its goal to create even more wildlife spaces within the city. You can still participate in Austin’s Wildlife Habitat program. A wildlife space can be something as simple as a birdbath. You will be surprised at the rewards you will receive when giving little creatures a little space. In addition, you can receive your very own wildlife certification.
Congratulations, Austin! And a BIG high-five to all participants who have made Austin a Community Wildlife Habitat.
Shay Hargus, Austin Avenue Real Estate Company
P.S. Make your home stand out with an official Certified Wildlife Habitat sign in your yard.
Read More:
Austin’s Habitat for Wildlife
Wildlife Austin
How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
Creating A Schoolyard Habitats
Filed under: Austin Green Living, Austin News and Events, Austin Sustainable Living, Austin Texas, Austin Texas News, Uncategorized | Tags: Austin, Austin awards, Austin news, Austin TX, Austin water, Austin water program, clean water
Last May (2008), I wrote a blog about Austin’s great water. At that time, Austin ranked #2 by Forbes.com for the nation’s cleanest water. Austin’s Clean Water Program (ACWP) was honored again by a higher power, the Environmental Protection Agency. Austin’s Clean Water Program was named one of the best infrastructure programs not only in the United States but also in the entire continent of North America. The International Right of Way Association has declared Austin’s Clean Water Program to be one of the best in North America’s history.
Austin’s $400 million Clean Water Program’s infrastructure projects were ranked in the #8 position on the list of the Top Ten of best projects in the last 75 years. Austin invested an approximate $15 million dollars to create over 100 projects to protect and improve Austin’s water.
So, Austinites, let’s all make a toast to the great City of Austin and its Clean Water Program with a tall drink of water straight from the tap. Water, another great reason to live in Austin, Texas! Read the story:
Filed under: Austin Green Living, Austin News and Events, Austin Texas, Austin Texas News, Things to do in Austin, Visit Austin | Tags: Audubon International, Austin, Austin golf, austin golf course, Austin golf courses, Austin TX, golf, golf country club, golf course, golf courses, private golf
Golf courses are known for their beautifully manicured green lawns and pristine landscaping. Some golfers would have it no other way. However, there is a new wave of golf courses emerging as not only excellent courses but as environmentally friendly as well. The Hills Country Club of Lakeway in Austin is just one of 13 golf courses in the State of Texas to earn Audubon International certification as cooperative sanctuaries. The Barton Creek Country Club located in Travis County also holds certifications by Audubon International.
From its inception, Barton Creek Country Club made water quality a priority. The course was designed and constructed to prevent runoff from the course into the Edwards Aquifer. The Tierra Verde course implements the uses of natural fertilizers such as corn gluten and poultry manure. Courses which receive Audubon International certification must meet criteria for protecting water quality to the surrounding area, water conservation, minimizing chemical fertilizers, providing wildlife sanctuaries and promote environmental education.
Austin is a city which believes in and promotes sustainable living and its golf courses are no exception. Three of Austin’s golf courses, maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department, have joined the Audubon International Sanctuary Program. The participating public golf courses are the Jimmy Clay Course, Koy Kizer and Morris Williams. Three of Austin’s private country clubs: the Austin Country Club, the Blacones Country Club and the Onion Creek Country Club have also joined the sanctuary program.
Water consumption is a large environmental factor when maintaining golf course landscaping. In response to this environmental concern, Austin golf courses are changing their watering habits. Many courses are now using reclaimed wastewater as opposed to potable water. Hancock is the only golf courses maintained by the city which, as yet, has not been switched over to using reclaimed wastewater. That course is scheduled to switch to treated wastewater next year.
Filed under: Austin Green Living, Austin News and Events, Austin Sustainable Living, Austin Texas, Austin Texas News, Austin Texas Real Estate, Texas
As I have mentioned in previous blogs, Austin is a city with a green living vision. I am proud to announce that both the Dell Children’s’ Medical Center and The Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Lone Star Austin campus have been awarded high honors by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design (LEED) rating system.
Dell Chrildren’s Medical Center was awarded the highly coveted platinum rating. The platinum rating is the highest award to be granted by the LEED rating system. The AMD – Lone Star campus located in Austin was awarded a gold rating, the second highest.
The platinum ratings make the Dell Children’s Medical Center the greenest hospital in the world and the first hospital to be recognized for its design and implementation of green living standards. The gold award received by AMD – Lone Star Austin campus is makes it one of the greenest corporate centers in the world.
The LEED Green Building Rating System is the national and worldwide benchmark for environmentally friendly building standards which include design, construction and operation. LEED rates buildings on the materials which improve energy efficiency.
The Dell Children’s Medical Center and the AMD – Lone Star Austin campus display not only their own commitment to sustainable living but to Austin ’s vision of becoming a sustainable city.
