Be it for Christmas Dinner or just to toast to a festive night on the town, the vibrant city of Austin has you covered. Below you will find a list of some of the favorite spots our family at Le Montreaux apartment community likes to dine or have a holiday toddy to celebrate all that is good in life.  Wherever you choose to go, make a reservation now as many of these local’s favorites are full every night.
To give you a little history of each, we have captured their stories in the descriptions from their websites.  Cheers!

Garbo’s
The Garbo's name goes back to the East Coast, where three sisters learned to adore the local lobster shacks and the catch of the day. The ocean and sandy beach were their entire life and embodied memories that the sisters are happy to share with anyone dining at their restaurant. The eldest, Heidi Garbo, took those ties to the ocean wherever she roamed from Connecticut down to the Florida Keys where she opened up the famous Garbo's Grill and met her husband, who somehow found a way to pull Heidi away from the ocean to the only land-locked home she's ever lived in, Austin, Texas. 

L’ Oca d’Oro
A late-night meal was Fiore’s inspiration for this eclectic restaurant in Austin. As the story goes, the concept for L’Oca d’Oro (The Golden Goose's) first iteration was as a supper club hosted a little bit too secretly at Franklin BBQ on Sunday nights in 2013.  The ‘Dinners to Rock To’ series paired menus with bands and courses with albums. Fiore indulged his most creative impulses for how and what people should eat.  His new partner, running the service, picked the purplest wines he could find for the Prince dinner, the funkiest wines for the James Brown dinner, female winemakers for Nina Simone and vegan wines for The Smiths.

Diner Bar Austin
The Diner Bar is a full-service restaurant and bar with a lively, convivial spirit adjacent to the Thompson Austin’s lobby. Under the guidance of Mashama Bailey and Johno Morisano, the menu features a range of seasonal Southern dishes layered with local Texan inspiration, such as Chicken Fried Quail with regionally ground grits and Clams and Chorizo with garlic trencher.

The Peacock Mediterranean Grill
Situated in Downtown’s 2nd Street District, Austin Proper Hotel and Residences offers an artful immersion in lifestyle and well-being. With emphasis on collaboration, the passionate, compelling vision of designer Kelly Wearstler meets the culinary creativity of Austin taste-maker, MML Hospitality. They are honored to share that Travel + Leisure’s 2022 World’s Best Awards results included their establishment.

Nido
Away from the restless energy of the city, Nido at The Loren is a true rooftop oasis. Step into the glass elevator from the lobby of The Loren and emerge through the trees, and into a world of sophisticated cuisine and casually impeccable service. Seasonal cues and the finest offerings from local purveyors are signatures of Nido’s Modern American menu, uniquely balancing Texas Hill Country rusticity with refined culinary techniques and precision, paired with an extensive curated selection of wine and spirits—all against a backdrop of the very best views in the city.    
 

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In a word: Magical.  That’s right. Pretty much wherever you go in Austin during the holiday season there is something magical to see or do.  
To make sure your Christmas or Hanukkah celebration are some to remember for years to come, our family at Le Montreaux apartments in Austin put this list together for you.  
From classic ballets to holiday-themed bars and fine dining events, there is so much to enjoy throughout the last month of the year.
Be sure to read BOTH BLOGS this month for a full list of holiday festivities!

Classic Christmas Movies  
Bringing you the best of the holiday are Austin’s own cinemas, theaters and playhouses! From classic Christmas to the crazy movies of yesteryear, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season.  
For a full list of movies coming your way, click into some of our favorite places to view a movie and more!
Paramont Theatre
Alamo Draft House / South Lamar
Alamo Draft House / Village
Alamo Draft House / Mueller
Galaxy Theaters
Regal Theaters
Violet Crown Theaters

Ballets & Beautiful Music
Nutcracker Ballet
December 2 – 23, 2023
The Long Center

From the twinkling lights, whirling snowflakes, and sparkling beauty of the exquisite sets and costumes comes the heart-warming story of young Clara and her nutcracker. Bringing the magic of the holiday season, the 61st annual production of The Nutcracker remains Austin’s longest-running live production. Get your tickets for this seasonal ballet featuring live accompaniment of Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score performed by the Austin Symphony Orchestra.  

The Watchmaker’s Song
December 7 – 10 & December 14-16, 2023
Neill-Cochran House Museum

Vanata Ballet presents a twist on the classic Nutcracker and is a must-see, whether you enjoy ballet, or not!  This is a Nutcracker for everyone. In a tribute to the cultural diversity of Austin, they are presenting a wide variety of dance styles that include Egyptian Belly Dance, Spanish Flamenco, Argentinian Tango, American Tap Dance, and of course the inimitable Mother Ginger!

The Christmas Carol
Now through December 31, 2023
Zach Theater

Sold out four years in a row, Austin’s hottest holiday tradition returns with new music and surprises to ring in the season. ZACH’s adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a musical sleigh ride through rhythm and time, infusing the traditional Victorian story with a score that spans all genres and eras.

How and Where to Fill Those Stockings!
Austin’s popular White Christmas Street Fair is back with the theme of Chocoland Head on over to Tong Chong Street into its mega-sized vintage chocolate shop. Highlights include a series of delightful choco attractions and photo spots, choco-inspired treats, shopping booths, carnival games, live performances, and more.
 

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It’s hard to believe that another year is quickly coming to a close. Before the ball drops in New York City, our family at our apartments to rent in Austin, Texas, are sharing some of our favorite ways to celebrate the season’s many traditions. We encourage you to find the time to enjoy some ‘holy jolly’ happenings within your apartment at Le Montreaux. 

Trim Your Christmas Tree

With more and more families spending time at home, there’s no doubt most will be diving into the holiday spirit earlier than ever before. This tradition of decorating a tree is a longstanding custom in our home, which started way back in Middle Ages! Within the history books, they tell us that the concept of decorating trees is believed to have started in Germany and reached popularity in America around the early 10th century. 

Get A Pickle

Speaking of traditions from Germany, here is an interesting tidbit about “Christmas Pickles.”  Although we do not have a green pickle ornament, millions of families across the globe hide one of these funny-looking things on their tree as a game for their kids. The first one to find it usually gets a special gift. So how did this start? History notes that the former Woolworths retail store started the idea when they got a surplus of these odd items to put on a tree from Germany … back in the late 1800s. 

Make a Calendar for Advent

It looks like this tradition started in Germany as well. Credit apparently goes to Gerhard Lard who was a publisher and decided to create a way for children to prepare for the birth of Jesus. As time went on, the 12-day calendar, which included a door that opened to a verse from the Bible, took on many new forms. Today, the Advent calendars may include a piece of chocolate, a toy, or verse to share with family and friends.

Make, Bake, and Decorate! 

Here’s an interesting piece of history. The concept of Christmas cookies actually started way back in ancient times and is a part of Norse mythology. As the story goes, the cookie concept began when children would leave cookies and milk out for Santa. During the Depression, when families were close at home, the concept of baking and decorating cookies took off and grew into one of most popular things to do during the holiday season. We encourage you and your family to bake a batch for all those first responders who stopped their lives for all of us this past year.

Don’t forget the Christmas Cards!

Leave technology for business matters and send good old-fashioned cards out to your friends and family this year. The worldwide tradition dates back to 1843 and is still very much alive today. Credit for the first card concept goes to a company called the Hall Brothers who lived in Kansas City. Today, “Hallmark” and thousands of other printing companies produce the 1.6 billion cards that are purchased today.

At our apartments for rent in Austin, TX, we love to hand-make our cards and send them to people who made a difference in our lives. Maybe you will too? 

No matter how you choose to celebrate, we thank you for being part of our community and wish you a healthy and memorable holiday to come!
 

The post Christmas Traditions to Your Keep Spirits Jolly This Season appeared first on Le Montreaux A Concierge Community Blog.

With the holidays in full swing, our staff at Le Montreaux apartments in Austin, TX, encourage all of you to get into the spirit, get out, and support our local businesses this season. Below you will find some highlights of the holiday happenings throughout our colorful city that have been planned to put you in the mood, and keep you celebrating, through the end of 2021!

All of the following events, and more things to do in Austin, can be found at VisitAustin.com. 
11/19/21 – 12/24/21

Blue Genie Art Bazaar
The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is a fixture of the Austin holiday season. With in-person and virtual shopping alternatives, shoppers can browse thousands of original works ranging from serious art to fun and kitschy items. A great way to buy hassle-free holiday gifts and support local artists.
bluegenieartbazaar.com

11/26/21 – 12/26/21
Peppermint Parkway
Circuit of The Americas
Peppermint Parkway is a magical experience at Austin's Circuit of The Americas. This year, the holiday spectacular will be transformed into a one mile driving attraction that immerses visitors in millions of holiday lights synchronized to joyful holiday classics.
peppermintparkway.com

11/27/21 – 12/30/21
Austin Trail of Lights
Zilker Park
The 57th Annual Trail of Lights is part of the essential Austin experience, lighting up the season with a celebration of community, memories, and fun. This year, the spectacular trail will return as a drive-thru event. Arrive early with a Dash Pass, or cruise through the night with General Admission.
austintrailoflights.org

12/1/21
Driskill Grand Lobby Tree Lighting
The Driskill Hotel
Gather at The Driskill hotel and watch as the Grand Lobby tree is lit, accompanied by holiday music, and caroling. The historic Driskill hosts holiday events throughout the season, including Victorian holiday teas.
driskillhotel.com

12/2/21 – 12/5/21
Austin Fashion Week
The Domain
The annual Austin Fashion Week, hosted by Fashion by Texas, returns this December for in-person, outdoor runway shows. More details to be announced later in the year.
fashionbyevents.com

12/2/21 – 1/30/22 (closed on select dates)
Luminations
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
At the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, stroll through an outdoor botanical oasis decked out in sparkling lights during the nightly Luminations, with plenty of space to explore
wildflower.org

12/3/21 – 12/5/21
Capital City Black Film Festival (CCBFF)
CCBFF exists to provide burgeoning Black filmmakers from across the nation an opportunity to showcase their works in one of the top cities in the United States for independent filmmakers, Austin. CCBFF delivers a best-in-class experience with thought-provoking programming, virtual networking opportunities, and films and music videos presented by talented filmmakers from across the globe.
capcitybff.com

12/4/21
Downtown Holiday Stroll
Congress Avenue, between Ninth Street & 11th Street
The stroll returns this December with free, family-friendly activities to celebrate the season. Visit downtown Austin for holiday festivities like the holiday shopping passport, pop-ups, appearances by Mr. & Mrs. Claus, holiday window and light displays and the signature 45-foot downtown tree.
downtownholidaystroll.com

12/4/21 – 12/23/21
Ballet Austin's "The Nutcracker"
Long Center for the Performing Arts
Ballet Austin will against host it's beloved holiday tradition with the 59th annual performance of The Nutcracker. The ballet production also includes music by the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
balletaustin.org

12/15/21 – 12/24/21
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Palmer Events Center
For 45+ seasons, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar has been a fine art shopping destination featuring national and local award-winning artists alongside live music in a festive, lively atmosphere. This year, the Armadillo will amplify the fine-art scene with an additional 25,000 of square footage enabling more local and national award-winning art, live music, and local food than ever before.
armadillobazaar.com

12/29/21
Kwanzaa Ujamaa Marketplace
George Washington Carver Museum
Visit the Carver Museum's annual Kwanzaa Ujuamaa celebration to shop local artists, craftspeople, small business owners and other vendors. In past years, the event has also included educational and family-friendly activities. More details to be announced soon.
austintexas.gov

12/31/21
Austin's New Year
Auditorium Shores
This alcohol-free, family-friendly event celebrates the diversity and creativity of the city with visual art installations, jugglers, storytellers, fire dancers and other festive performances.
austintexas.gov
 
 

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Throughout our childhood there was certainly a time when we stopped our ‘reading, writing, and arithmetic’ to learn about the first Thanksgiving. With this significant holiday, which is just around the corner, our family at Le Montreaux apartments in Austin thought this is the most appropriate time to share the story as depicted through an article on the History Channel’s website. 

We encourage you to share this story with your friends and family this Thanksgiving. Moreover, on behalf of our entire family at our apartment community in Austin, TX, we wish you a safe and memorable holiday.
(Story courtesy of the History Channel)

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States, and Thanksgiving 2021 occurs on Thursday, November 25. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

Thanksgiving at Plymouth 

In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers—an assortment of religious separatists seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith and other individuals lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the New World. After a treacherous and uncomfortable crossing that lasted 66 days, they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, far north of their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River. One month later, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims, as they are now commonly known, began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth.

Throughout that first brutal winter, most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy, and outbreaks of contagious disease. Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see their first New England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they received an astonishing visit from an Abenaki Native American who greeted them in English. 

Several days later, he returned with another Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who had been kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before escaping to London and returning to his homeland on an exploratory expedition. Squanto taught the Pilgrims, weakened by malnutrition and illness, how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid poisonous plants. 

He also helped the settlers forge an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe, which would endure for more than 50 years and tragically remains one of the sole examples of harmony between European colonists and Native Americans.  

May your family enjoy a holiday filled with its own harmony and goodwill this year, and in years to come!

P.S. If you want to read more about how Thanksgiving got started in the first place, (read more).
 

The post When Was the First Thanksgiving? appeared first on Le Montreaux A Concierge Community Blog.

In our last blog we offered a variety of ideas to keep the “Bah Humbug” out of your apartment in Austin, TX.  Within this article, we are keeping the spirit of the season alive  and offering more ideas on how to have a healthy and happy holiday.  So read on, and from our entire family at LeMontreaux apartment community,  we wish you warm and wonderful celebrations to come!

Prioritize traditions.

According to Gretchen Rubin, author of Happier at Home, she suggests we focus on the ‘good in life’ and what the holidays mean to each of us.  She notes “Even if you are not doing everything that you used to, it’s important to keep your favorite traditions alive.” So, bake some cookies for Santa, put on some classic holiday tunes, and make your grandmothers famous Pecan Pie.

Watch classic Christmas movies.

Get out your favorite ugly holiday sweater, heat up the hot cocoa, make some popcorn, and snuggle up with your loved ones to enjoy the holidays safe and sound at home.  There are so many classic Christmas movies we could not recommend just one.  To keep you in the spirit, here is a list of the “best Christmas movies on Netflix.”

Share some holiday cheer.

Now, more than ever, we could all use a little more love and laughter in our lives.  Perhaps this is the best time to make some homemade cards and cookies to deliver to some of your neighbors who live in our apartment community in Austin, TX, who might need a little cheering up!

Rekindle your memories.

Bring joy to those who you love most.  A hand-written note goes so far in life these days – especially for those you have not seen all year long.  Put aside some time to let those who you miss most know about the holiday memories you still treasure today.  If you have a few pictures, be sure to include those too!

Organize a dessert recipe swap.

In past years we have enjoyed gathering all our friends together for a fun-filled afternoon in our apartment in Austin – baking cookies all day long.  With safety in mind, we are switching this up with a new tradition.  Gather a list of your neighbors and send out a festive note to see how many different traditional holiday dessert recipes you swap within a week’s time.

To Zoom or not to Zoom Christmas Day.

We would prefer the latter. Yet if your plans include an online call with your family who may be blocks or miles away, here is another new tradition: set a place at the table for your computer!  And get really festive. Have some flowers delivered, set a table that is warm and welcoming and overflowing with holiday cheer.  Be it Christmas brunch or just a holiday happy hour, why not bring everyone together at the table this year.

Thank your community’s essential workers.

Earlier in our article we suggested you find time to create some notes of joy to share with those you miss most.  Take this concept a little closer to your own community.  Be it a package of freshly baked goods or gift cards wrapped with a personal note, there is no doubt any effort be it large or small will go a long way.  And perhaps this is yet another new tradition that you can pass on for years to come!

Maybe different is a good thing?

We hope that our articles this month have inspired you to focus on a few new creative ways to keep the sprit of the season alive and well.  When it is all over, we hope that our inspiration has helped you and yours have happy and healthy celebrations through the end of the year and well into 2021.

The post Top Tips on How to Have a Healthy and Happy Holiday in Austin, TX (continued) appeared first on Le Montreaux A Concierge Community Blog.

With the fall season right around the corner, smart travelers are already looking for good deals and great tips on how to enjoy their holiday travel this year.  Be it Thanksgiving, Christmas, or events in-between, traveling can be a challenge to say the least.

To help you stay ahead of the (stress) curve, we decided to use our blogs this month on some tips that we have found online that will hopefully make your travels to and from our apartment community in Austin, Texas, this Thanksgiving (and other holidays) a lot more enjoyable this year.

We’ll send along our thanks to the Travel Channel who has enlightened us with the following tips.

Safe travels!

Plan Ahead

It's never too early to start your holiday travel planning. In the early fall, you can take advantage of lower rates and seats aplenty. To jump on a bargain, sign up for sale notifications from your preferred airlines or Amtrak and follow your favorites on Twitter and Facebook where special sale notifications may pop up before they are available to the general public.

Travel Light

As more airlines start charging for checked bags, it's a good idea to pack light and carry on your bag. But keep in mind that your fellow travelers will all have the same idea and overhead space may be tight onboard. To lighten your traveling load, consider shipping some of your belongings to your final destination ahead of time, especially presents and bulky items like diapers or extra clothes that you won't need for the journey.

Choose the Best Days

The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year closely followed by the Sunday after the big day when travelers tear themselves away from the leftovers and football to make the journey home. Christmas has a similar pattern. 

Avoid these days by flying out on Monday or Tuesday if the holiday schedule makes sense. When you're ready to head home, take flight on Friday when the masses have moved on from the airports to the shopping centers to score the best holiday deals. The crowds pick up again on Saturday, reaching a critical peak on Sunday, before leveling out on Monday.

High-Tech Troubleshooting

It's commonsense to arrive at the airport early — you'll need the time for parking, security and to wait your turn for that necessary cup of coffee. But you can avoid some airport hassles by taking advantage of useful applications that can be used on your smart phone. iPhone users can get the skinny on the airport, including maps showing the gates and restaurant information, using the GateGuru app. Airlines including Southwest, Delta and American Airlines all have mobile websites where passengers can check in, confirm seats and keep track of their flight status.

Holiday Road

While you certainly save money and avoid some headaches traveling by land, navigating the highways presents its own set of holiday challenges during the extended Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Traffic can choke heavily traveled routes adding hours to generally speedy trips. Follow the same best practices for road travel, including avoiding the highways on the Wednesday before turkey day and the following Sunday.

Plan your route ahead of time and travel with a GPS system, smart phone or old-school maps to offer alternatives if you need a Plan B. And to avoid unnecessary delays, bring along an E-ZPass or change for the tolls, as well as plenty of snacks, and be sure to fill up on gas before you hit the road.

Unplug. Unwind. Have fun.

Although traveling during the holidays has its challenges, when all is said and done it gives us all a chance to really unplug, unwind, and spend good times with family and friends.

On behalf of the entire team at Le Montreaux we wish you the best of success in planning your holiday travels.  If you happen to decide to stay at home, we’ll look forward to sharing the seasons with you!

The post TRAVELING FOR THE HOLIDAYS? CHECK OUT THESE TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE TRAVEL EASIER DURING THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON. appeared first on Le Montreaux A Concierge Community Blog.