Texas VegFest: Celebrating 10 Years of Community and Compassion

I spent my Saturday afternoon soaking up the energy, flavors, and creativity at the 10th annual Texas VegFest—and it did not disappoint. Held at Fiesta Gardens along the shores of Lady Bird Lake, this year’s event brought together an incredible mix of food vendors, nonprofits, musicians, and plant-based enthusiasts from all over Austin. Whether you’re vegan, veg-curious, or just hungry and open-minded, this festival had something for everyone.

The weather was a little unpredictable (classic Austin spring), but that didn’t stop the crowds. I wandered through rows of vendor tents sampling all kinds of veggie-based goodies—from BBQ tempeh sliders to vegan tamales to inventive dairy-free desserts. And of course, I picked up my fair share of stickers, tote bags, and free swag along the way.

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Launch Pad Job Club’s Orientation: Navigating Job Search Strategies

On April 4th, I had the opportunity to attend the Launch Pad Job Club’s New Member Orientation at the ACC Highland Learning Center, a place I had never visited before but was eager to check out. The former mall turned high-tech, eco-friendly community college campus was buzzing with students and job seekers alike, making it the perfect setting for this unique workshop and networking event.

The New Member Orientation is designed to help individuals who are new to the club or returning after a hiatus, providing a space for support and professional development. It’s held weekly on Fridays, offering a chance for members to gather virtually or in person for career coaching, advice, and motivation. As someone currently in the job search trenches, I was eager to see what insights the session could offer, and I was not disappointed.

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PEAS Community Farm “Spring into Fun Day”

I went to the “Spring into Fun Day” garden tour hosted at Cummingham Elementary by PEAS (Partners for Education, Agriculture, and Sustainability.) During my time in Austin, I’ve crossed paths with PEAS’ educational and outreach efforts. I’m very impressed with what they have achieved and how they leverage partnerships within the community.

After parking and walking onto the school grounds, I headed over to the elementary school garden. This is both an educational and production garden. Students are taught how to grow and care for produce, along with science lessons.

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Surreal Gardens Art Exhibit

Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin, Texas, held an Instagram-able art exhibit called Surreal Gardens with neon lights and sculptures. I was very interested in attending this event because I have a special attachment to the gardens visiting with my grandmother, and the event looked really intriguing.

Ion Art is excited to announce our next Surreal event with the debut of The Surreal Garden at the Zilker Botanical Garden! The Surreal series is an annual interactive art experience full of fantastical neon pieces created by Sharon Keshishian and the Ion Art team. By integrating the exhibit into the serene setting of the enchanting botanical gardens, the already stunning art event becomes a phenomenal experience and a wonderful way to benefit The Garden.

— Ion Art’s Surreal Garden Webpage

I arrived early so I could see the art during the daylight hours first. The walk through the Gardens was nice. I found the Cretacious Gardens the most interesting with the featured sculptures.

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Fiesta San Antonio 2022

My company, Texas Disposal Systems, supplied the portable restrooms and fencing for Fiesta in San Antonio. The festival provided TDS employees with free tickets and a VIP table for NIOSA (Night in Old San Antonio). I went with the marketing department as part of team bonding.

This was my first time attending Fiesta in San Antonio. I was taken back by the scale of the event. We made our way over to the VIP tables to watch the annual float parade. However, the festival incorporated the entire city!

What is Fiesta?

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Austin Trip – REI Round Rock

REI Round Rock – Urban Survival Talk

REI Round Rock was hosting a survival seminar called, Prepare for the Unexpected: Urban Emergency Preparedness, which I was really excited to attend. So I made the drive from Bastrop, TX, to Round Rock for the presentation that evening. When I arrived, I was really impressed to see the design of the REI Round Rock building on the outside, and was in for a big surprise with what I was going to see on the inside!

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