Football is unquestionably a massive part of people’s lives. Even if you don’t watch all year long, there’s a draw to watch big matches with a lot at stake. Watching these huge games is something that brings people and their communities together. Everyone has their own reasons for cheering for a specific team – they may follow the team their family has supported for years or switch allegiances when a star player trades in for a new uniform. Other folks played football growing up or continue to do so and can see a little bit of themselves in the players they idolize. There are so many reasons we tune in for a good football match! But the question remains, is watching football good or bad for your memory? 

The Non-Workout Brain Workout

Did you know just watching a sport can improve your mental capacity? And that people who discuss games show improved neural connections related to linguistic ability and comprehension? It’s true! Even as a mere spectator you enjoy the benefits of muscle nerve activity, increased memory because of social bonding, and mood improvement – all of which can help boost your memory powers.

In fact, watching a match alongside a television announcer’s play-by-play allows your brain to practice making connections between language and cognition – a key to great recall. Think about it. An announcer describes a certain play, and you see it enacted on the screen. Later, when discussing the play with friends or reading about it in the newspaper, your “mind’s eye” can paint the picture of the action just from the words. 

A Memory in Time

Truly memorable games, especially those of big tournaments, help guide our sense of time and contextualize our memories. We have an easier time remembering where we were and what we were doing when combined with these emotional “anchoring” events. According to Professor Alistair Burns, NHS’ clinical director for dementia, patients who re-watch classic games experience memory stimulation and overall brain activity boosts. Remembering the setting of how, when, and where you watched a game helps trigger surrounding memories, even those completely unrelated to football. 

Just as a boat anchor stops a boat from floating away, a memory anchor stops a memory from floating away. Our memories don’t exist in a vacuum. Whenever we acquire new bits of information, they need to be connected to something else we already know. If you know the year your favorite football team won the semifinals in double over time was the same year your niece was born, and you know they won that historic game in 1996, then you remember what age your niece is turning this year. 

Intense Game!?

A team of Princeton scientists found that dramatic games tap into a process in the brain that allows us to forge powerful memories. When a play surprises us, it interrupts the narrative flow of the game, and these memories tend to last longer than “expected” wins. So, the many surprises in football help us practice our brain’s ability to form memories. 

A Johns Hopkins University study explored this phenomenon in babies, noting how they use unexpectedness to help guide their awareness – specifically focusing on things which went against their expectations and caused surprise. The element of surprise is what made them learn the information better and caused a more thorough exploration of their environment. How closely do you pay attention to a game when the undefeated team wins just as everybody expected? Could you recall any details days later? What about when the underdog pulls off that surprise upset? Our brain favors novelty.

Boring Game?

Oftentimes when it feels like we are “vegging out” our brains are processing other memories in the background. So even slow games can be good for your memory!

If these slower games help you to catch a bit of downtime and zone out, it doesn’t mean your brain has totally checked out. Some regions of our brain get more active when we aren’t handling a whole bunch of new information. One of these areas of the brain is called the Default Mode Network and it plays an important role not just in helping us to form memories, but also our ethics, creativity, and sense of self. When we allow our minds to wander, like during that game that is STILL tied at zero, it can be very replenishing. 

Does Watching Football Spark Joy?

You learn more when you are happy. Research shows experiencing happiness before cognitive tasks greatly increases performance. If watching football makes you joyful, add to that joy by knowing it’s probably making your memory stronger too! Maybe even replay your favorite highlights before your next exam.

How will this help? Feelings of happiness create dopamine and serotonin. When these substances are released into the brain it has a positive effect on our memory and ability to learn. These chemicals increase the brain’s capacity to make connections and make them faster. This creates creativity and exceptional problem solving. So, yes, go ahead and watch those old plays that cause you to crack a smile! You’ll boost your mental powers in the process.

What’s your favorite football memory? Tell us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter by sharing this article and tagging us!

Using Drops to learn 3000 words of Brazilian Portuguese in 3 weeks is one of the smartest ways I’ve used my smartphone recently!

According to a new study from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin, that smartphone you always keep within arm’s reach may be impairing your cognitive function. Even when its powered down. 

The study involved experiments with 800 different users to find out how well they were able to conduct tasks while their smartphone sat nearby. 

One experiment necessitated the participant sit in front of a computer and take tests that would require their full focus in order to receive a good score. These tests would serve as a measurement for cognitive capacity, or their brain’s capability to gather and understand information. But first, the participant would be asked to put their smartphone either on the desk, inside their bag or pocket, or outside the room. They were also asked to set them to silent. 

And you may guess what happened from there. The participants who chose to place their smartphone in a separate room performed better than the group with phones right on the desk or inside a bag or pocket.  

While all participants likely felt they were giving full attention to the series of tests, these findings point to the possibility that even the presence of participants’ smartphones limited their brain power. Researchers say there is a linear trend which indicates that when the phone is more conspicuous, cognitive capacity goes down. The supposed simple act of ignoring the phone actually drains some of the brain’s resources. 

Another experiment asked participants to self-report how dependent they felt they were on their smartphone. They then were asked to complete the same series of tests as the first experiment but were assigned at random to either place their phone on the desk, in their bag or pocket, or outside the room. 

This experiment showed that the participants who reported they were most dependent scored lower when compared to those who were not so dependent, but just when they were assigned to keep their phone nearby. Not when the phone was outside the room. 

The researchers also found that variables like whether the phone was facing up or down, on or off, played little part. Simply seeing the smartphone or having it easily accessible lessened the participants focus and score because part of their brain space was being used to control the urge to engage with that phone. 

Even without notifications or calls coming in, the phone’s presence was enough of a distraction to limit cognitive function.

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To read the full study, click here. 

If you’re preparing for an approaching job interview, it is possible there is some information you’d like to commit to memory. Perhaps you want to plan out answers to the top-asked interview questions or memorize information relevant to the company you’re looking to join or it’s industry. Let’s chat about how memory techniques may help!

How to Memorize Interview Materials

The top memory champions will tell you; memory is a PRACTICE! It’s something that will get sharper and better over time – not overnight. So, the most important thing you can do is get your information/materials ready early and then review them every day until the BIG day. To do that, here are three additional steps –

Set yourself up for success –

With a little bit of preparation, you can increase your likelihood to retain information. To get yourself in the right frame of mind to memorize you will want to consider your health, space, and distractions. Getting a good night of sleep each night you’re preparing for the impending interview is important – not just the night before the big day. Feeling rested prior to reviewing your materials each day will make you more alert and focused on the task at hand. If you’re feeling nervous, tense, or stressed; try exercising before your review sessions.

Different people absorb information better at different times. Think back to your school days to pinpoint when might be a good time for you to block off your calendar during the day to sit down with your materials. When you do so, make sure to eliminate as many distractions as possible. Find a quiet room, turn off your phone notifications, and tell yourself you’re only going to focus on one thing at a time until your allotted review time runs out.

Pick up pen and paper –

While you may use a device for most written communications these days, handwriting is a powerful tool when it comes to memory retention. As you’re brainstorming interview answers you want to memorize, consider writing them down the old-fashioned way. Same goes for the facts or information you want to commit to memory. Putting pen (or pencil) to paper requires more time, thinking, and physical movement. Therefore, the body-brain connection helps you to memorize. Hearing things out loud can also prove helpful, so feel free to recite words out loud as you write them down.

Choose a memory technique –

Finally, here are a few of my favorite memory techniques. Once you find one that works for you, it becomes easy to apply it to almost any situation in which you need to remember things!

·         Genuine interest – Think about your favorite hobby, tv show, or sports team. You probably know LOADS of random information pertaining to these things, right? Yet you weren’t poring over flash cards or pulling all-nighters to cram this stuff. That’s because we easily retain what we’re interested in. If you want to remember a bunch of facts about the company you’re interviewing for, focus on the ones you actually find fascinating. Bonus: You’ll sound so much more sincere in your interview because you’ll be covering what you genuinely care about.

·         Pair information with images – This memory technique is all about associating the information you want to recall by creating a relationship. A technique often used for this is called The Memory Palace; by changing information to images and then placing those images within your memory palace, you can later walk through your palace to see and recall that information.

·         Rephrase material into your own words – Whenever you need to know specific information, it always helps to rephrase or summarize it into your own words. This personalizes the material and makes it unique to you! If you’re researching great answers to common interview questions, this one is a MUST as you want your version of that answer to be honest and personal…and sound like you, too. If you want to memorize answers word for word (or if you need to give a speech or presentation at your interview), check out THIS VIDEO.

·         Mnemonic devices – Essentially, this is any pattern that facilitates memorization. This could be anything from setting facts to a tune or making things rhyme to creating anagrams or acronyms. For example, if you’ll be interviewing in front of a panel that consists of folks named Warren, Esther, Sarai, and Trayvon; you may use the word WEST to help you commit those four names to memory.

·         Color coding – This final technique is great for the visual learners out there and utilizes compartmentalization along with visual cues. You simply divide information into like groups by using different colors (for your pens, papers, sticky notes, etc.) to help differentiate the categories. This will not only help you remember the information itself, by using association, but also what information goes where and with what.

All of the above suggestions will not only help you prepare for your next big interview but will also hone your overall memory skills and increase your confidence. Practice and review early and often, set yourself up for success, and don’t be afraid to employ your favorite memory strategies to give yourself that competitive edge. Good luck!

Written by Beth Berger for Team Wintersoul.

As the novel coronavirus wreaks havoc across the globe, you may find yourself feeling powerless. Entire countries are on lockdown, businesses are shuttering, paychecks are precarious, and medical supplies appear to be dwindling. It’s a scary and, at times, over-whelming place we’ve found ourselves in. Fortunately, there are ways to help. Many individuals and institutions are feeling alone, frightened, and worried. 

Extending a helping hand is a way we can turn our own feelings of powerlessness into feelings of power. 

Things will certainly get worse before they get better. The most important thing we can do right now to help curb the spread of the disease is practice social distancing. Stay at home with only members of your immediate family (or roommates) unless your job is deemed an essential service, or you are going out to get supplies. If you must leave the house, limit your contact with surfaces and remain at least 6 feet away from other people. This is a necessary measure to protect not just ourselves, but to protect our most vulnerable populations as well. 

Beyond this immediate need, the economic and social effects of the current global pandemic may take longer to fully realize. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t get started. Here are a few ways you can help – 

1. Donate food or money to food banks.

Due to the school and business closures, as well as the spike in unemployment, food banks are bracing for a spike in demand. Children that rely on free and reduced lunch, the elderly, and hourly employees are going to be in need during this time and well after the dust has settled. 

Donating even a dollar or two to your local food bank will help put food on the tables of these vulnerable individuals. If you have food available to donate, call ahead to see if the organization near you has a drop-off point set up so you won’t have to exit your vehicle to leave your donation. 

If you’re in the United States, visit the Feeding America website to find a food bank near you and read about more ways to help combat food insecurity during this outbreak. 

1. Volunteer remotely.

While we don’t recommend volunteering in-person right now, if you have a phone or a stable internet connection, there are still plenty of ways for you to volunteer your time. 

Ask about becoming a telephone volunteer with an organization that provides companionship for the elderly. They can match you with a senior citizen to call once a week. Or consider setting something similar up with any older folks in your community or family who might live alone. Set up a time to check in over the phone – to remind them there’s someone out there who cares about them and to offer a bit of distraction during a scary time. 

There are also opportunities for student mentorship that can be done online. You can set up video chats with your student for tutoring or just to chat. Most students have been thrust into the world of online learning in order to complete their school year. They (and their parents) are most likely feeling over-whelmed and an extra adult to offer support would be much appreciated. 

You could also volunteer as a remote crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line. Once you sign up, they offer training on how to respond to text messages. It’s a small gesture but you could literally save a life. 

1. Donate blood.

Due to donor cancellations, the Red Cross is experiencing severe blood shortages during this pandemic. Couple that with the fear that as the number of people who test positive for Coronavirus increases, the pool of eligible blood donors will shrink. 

We’ve been told to limit our trips outside the home; however, blood banks have put many precautions in place to help keep donors safe. The Red Cross is screening temperatures and maintaining a six feet distance between anyone who isn’t in PPE as well as disinfecting surfaces between each donor. 

1. Help with medical costs.

If you are in a financial position to do so, consider giving a monetary donation to organizations that are helping people offset medical costs. 

• HealthWell Foundation gives financial assistance to help with co-pays and insurance premiums/deductibles.

• GlobalGiving has a relief fund set up with all donations going toward medical supplies and sending essential items to folks in need who are quarantined. 

1. Donate medical supplies. 

If you own a business that stocks medical supplies, such as exam gloves or N95 masks, either for sale or for your employees use, consider donating them to a hospital. Many hospitals are running low on the protective equipment needed by their healthcare workers to safely treat Coronavirus patients. They are starting to accept donations from manufacturers, companies, and the public. 

And if you have a sewing machine, here’s a tutorial on how to make protective masks and gowns. Help support medical personnel with your crafty skillset! 

1. Foster an animal.

Animal shelters need our help now more than ever. Because of the economic uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus outbreak, may people are surrendering their animals to shelters because of job loss and worry that they won’t be able to afford to care for them in the months to come. 

If you have the means to do so, reach out to a local shelter or humane society about fostering an animal during this crisis. Most are happy to facilitate a pick-up with minimal contact. 

This would be mutually beneficial for any humans out there who live alone and have found themselves craving companionship over the last couple weeks. A furry friend could brighten your spirits just as much as you would brighten theirs! 

1. Support local businesses.

Millions of establishments have been told to shut their doors. This impact, especially as it pertains to employment, is already being felt by so many. 

However, many businesses are still offering take-out or pickup and others are still selling things like merchandise or gift cards on their websites. 

Help support these businesses by taking advantage of these offerings. When you leave your home or apartment once a week to get supplies, order a meal to pick up curbside on the way home. Buy a $50 gift card to your favorite café and save it for when this is all behind us. The idea here is that infusions of cash now will assist these smaller businesses in making it through this for the long haul. 

1. Send cheer to nursing homes.

Finally, there’s been a lot of talk about folks over 65 being the highest risk for developing severe cases of the virus. And this population is no doubt feeling the fear from hearing this repeated refrain. Especially those who are in nursing homes and care facilities who are under extreme self-quarantine. As added protection for their residents, many have not allowed outside visitors in weeks. 

Even if you don’t have a loved one in one of these facilities, give one a call and ask what their current protocols are about receiving deliveries and mail. You could send flowers, baked goods, letters, books, or art made by your kids. If sending anything physical is out of the question, ask if you could email over a video message or a recording. Anything you think might provide a bit of joy and ease their loneliness would be much appreciated. 

Whether you’re supporting local businesses, donating blood or medical supplies, or just offering a kind ear to someone who is struggling, your community will be thankful for any help you can provide in this difficult time. But remember when helping others, to also take care of yourself. Be gentle with yourself. Practice self-care. This is a hard time for all of us, but we will emerge stronger and better and more resilient as a result. Sending our love to everyone across the globe! xoxo

Team Wintersoul

🌸Spring is blossoming and so are my plans! First thing coming up is that I’ll be making 1 (or maybe even 2 - time permitting!) fun memory videos next week. To not miss them, subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven’t already. I’m hoping to share new tips on there every Monday as I’ve finally (HOPEFULLY) learned that all the beautiful and silly things I want to teach and talk about with the help of these big companies (like Netflix, Facebook, IKEA, HBO, CNN, Vox etc), I could also get to you directly (together with a few helpful people on the team 😉). I should probably create my own content no matter how much I enjoy working with those amazing teams and wish to keep working with them forever. It’s taken me 10 years to learn it so far, so I know I’ll keep relearning this:

If you are a creator - you have to create by yourself, you can’t wait for the stars to align to collaborate with others.

🎥I’m still wrapping up filming some things in New York, then for the last week of March I’m off to Baltimore for my first baby shower! (Someone else’s baby shower - not mine!). Any advice on how to be a great baby shower attendee? I’m worried I’ll have to be impolite and decline to eat fake chocolate poop out of a diaper, as that is my only frame of reference for baby showers from watching The Incredible Jessica James.

✈️For the first half of April I’m 90% certain (viruses permitting?)  I’ll be going to Spain and the UK to shoot some TV (analog TV as we call it in Swedish). I’m not allowed to share anything until it airs (as per usual) but I’ll share what I can on my instagram stories. I’m hopefully also doing a live event in New York at the end of April and I think I’ll only be sharing it in my stories… In between shoots in Europe, I’m hoping to squeeze in a trip to Camp Nou to watch football!!! Barcelona (the team I’ve rooted for and been on-again-off-again obsessed with since 2010) are playing in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. If you care about football, tweet me your favorite team! ⚽️

👩‍💻🎓Earlier this week, I just got accepted into a top coding bootcamp in Manhattan 🎉 so I’ll be low-key learning how to code even better starting next week, and when I get back from the TV/football trip to Europe I’ll spend most of my waking hours at the bootcamp in New York until the end of July (WHILE STILL POSTING FOR YOU!). I’m planning to start boxing and working out every day before class and not just work out 2-4 times a week as I do now.

While it’s possible to learn an immense amount of new information with a sedentary lifestyle, working out regularly really helps you learn faster.

Until next time, keep it memorable ✌️

✍️Янжүшка💋

Do what you can with what you have.

work out for a better memory.

Most of us have long-lasting memories when it comes to our childhood holidays. Some of these memories are quite predictable. They’re tied to traditions that have been passed down for generations—just their occurrence evokes emotion and thus, remembrance. While others may stick in our minds because they’re just the slightest bit out of the ordinary. An unexpected guest, a turkey left in the oven too long, a missed flight. 

Memories are strengthened not because of what we do but how we do it. Meaning, many times the simple action isn’t enough for our brain to get to work cataloguing the details away. To make moments and anecdotes -- even data -- memorable, your brain must set it apart and offer some sort of significance.

This is exactly what happens when you’re remembering a holiday tradition. As your brain gets to work storing these special moments away this holiday season, take a moment to notice why these memories are so easy to make (and hold onto!). Then, you can apply these 7 memory boosting factors to other things you may want to remember.

Here’s how holiday traditions boost your memory – 

Less Anxiety

Every day life is hectic and full of unknown factors. However, during the holidays we know exactly what to do and what is expected from us. Having holiday traditions means there’s an order to how things get done and this provides a relaxed sense of control, structure, and constancy. 

Research shows that the act of remembering is made easier when we’re feeling calm. This sense of ritual and order is an easy way for us to feel less anxious and allows our brain to get to work snapping memorable “photos” to tuck away for later. 

Special Meals

Most holiday traditions wouldn’t be complete without a festive meal. Not only does creating ritual around your food help it to taste better, but these meals can help to tether important memories to your consciousness. 

The role of smell is the main reason food is able to create this tether. There’s a close connection between your olfactory system and the part of your brain responsible for memories. Studies have even found that damage to a “memory center” in the brain can impair your ability to smell. 

Putting a Twist on the Normal

A big reason our childhood memories are so unforgettable is that, many times, something extraordinary was accompanying the mundane. We may have been to a department store many times…but never to see a jolly old man in a red suit. We ate dinner every night…but never with a beautiful gold menorah shining bright.

This twist on our usual routine isn’t always extravagant but it IS outside the expected. And this is the perfect set of circumstances for making memories last. 

Gist Memories

Because of the repetition of holiday traditions, oftentimes we form a “gist memory,” which means our brain uses all the information it has about that particular occurrence to create a composite. We may not remember the specific time or all the peripheral details, but we’re still able to draw upon the “gist” to access the information needed. 

Learning to draw upon our composite memories can be a useful skill to have, especially if we’re put on the spot in a conversation or need to practice quick recall.

Reminiscing

Another reason our holiday traditions are so memorable? We spend time thinking about them. This is called reminiscing and it has a stronger impact on your brain than you might think. In fact, reminiscence therapy is often used with dementia patients to help maintain their access to memories and improve their quality of life.

Essentially, a holiday get-together may be exciting enough that we want to continually replay the details in our mind. However, this practice of “watching things back” can be applied to other, less thrilling aspects of life, too.

Peak-End Rule

According to the Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman, when we evaluate past experiences, we remember the best moments and the last moments. This is called “Peak-End Rule.”

Generally, our family holidays are chock-full of good times – delicious food, funny conversations, relatives you haven’t seen all year, and presents. Because the peaks are plenty, we forget less.

Document and Revisit

Finally, we love documenting our holiday traditions. Whether for our family photo albums or an Instagram post, that big holiday soiree will likely result in a photo or two. Research shows that to remember specific details of a major event, it’s helpful to revisit what happened as soon as possible and then regularly afterwards. What better way to do that than with images and videos?

The more you reinforce a memory, the longer it will be accurately etched in your brain. Utilizing new senses to do this (i.e. looking at a photo or listening to a recording), makes it so the frequent revisiting isn’t boring, but fun! 

Experts say, rehashing a memory in your mind a few times every day for a week will improve your long-term recall of any event. 

There are so many reasons to value your holiday traditions. Research indicates that these rituals offer positive psychological benefits, help us have fun, unite us with our friends and family, and give a break from our everyday lives. But they also allow for powerful and long-lasting memories. And it’s the creation of these holiday memories that could unlock the blueprint for making more memories all year long! 

Written by the wonderful Beth Berger for Team Wintersoul.

where to eat in austin, tx

Before I moved to New York I lived in Austin (on-and-off) for 2,5 years while I was figuring out my immigration status… which was about as fun as it sounds. It was très très stressful but at least I had the endless and cheap culinary scene of Austin to help me with the stress eating. As someone who ate myself through Austin I frequently see TERRIBLE advice on what to do, see and where to eat from people who’ve only been there for short trips and haven’t exhausted the food options. Amy’s Ice Cream? No. Franklin’s BBQ? Not unless you want to spend 6 of your 72 hour-weekend trip standing in line in the minimum 92 degree heat.

To remedy this tragedy I’ve put together this list of delumpcious places to eat and drink in Austin.

Note: I was an omnivore during my first year and became a vegetarian for the remaining 1,5 years there so my recommendations are mostly vegetarian. But I also learned a spicy helpful tip for restaurants overall - that you can usually judge a place by how good their vegetarian options are. And the following places have amazing options for both vegetarians and omnivores.

Elizabeth Street Café

My go-to location: The one… on Elizabeth Street.

Legendary Vietnamese-French fusion at an affordable price. SO instagrammable and visually stunning that we shot some of Memory Games there but it was cut in the editing room. Possibly because we were supposed to have a conversation about memory but we ended up just talking about the food.

Must-haves? The Bánh Mì 29 with avocado and sprouts.

Sides? The nutella éclair!

To drink? Vietnamese coffee.

Hopdoddy’s Burger Bar

My go-to location: The one on South Congress (where I used to live!)

Endless burgers with endless lines - unless you show up on time. But so worth it in this cute and formerly quaint street of Austin. Note: I don’t remember a single burger I had there that was bad and I tried all of them.

Must-have? A burger with a medium-rare impossible patty. Or the ahi-tuna medium-rare. YUM!

Sides? Truffle fries.

To drink? The daily or weekly special milkshakes are usually the bomb. Or a mixed strawberry caramel milkshake.

Torchy’s Tacos

My go-to location: The one on South Congress (when there’s no line) has cool architecture and great portions but most of the locations in town are really good.

The best tacos in town hands down, which people sometimes disagree on but none of the other taco places are as consistently good throughout their locations at that price. (Though I should say a new place called Suerte opened after my move to New York and I have heard good things!).

Must-have? The migas. TIP: if you order to go it’ll be a lot smaller than dining in.

Sides? Guac and chips.

To drink? A chilled Mexican Coke.

Lick Ice Cream

My go-to location: The one on South Lamar.

Hands down the best ice cream in town with delicious vegan and vegetarian options. Quirky mixes and fun flavors without going too haute cuisine, but far from the trashiness that is other ice cream places. Try all of the flavors that sound good (they are usually patient enough to let you try many of them at least). Trust me, I know ice cream and the other ones might be all hype but in the end not very worth it.

Summermoon Coffee Bar

My go-to location: The one on South 1st, but they’re all delish!

The best coffee you’ll ever have. Liquid happiness. TIP: Do not order the non-dairy option. For a cold beverage order the Wintermoon 16 oz and for a hot one get the Summermoon. During my last trip to Austin for just a short weekend I had one every day because it is just that good and worth the trip. Even looked at buying a house near the coffee bar at some point because it is so damn good. I want to fly more often to Austin just to have it. If I were a serious investor I’d buy a share of their company and make them expand to New York so I could keep having it here.

Uchi

My go-to location: The one on South Lamar but Uchiko up north is just as good.

Talented chefs within this trendy Japanese spot. Very pricey but worth it (in my opinion). Don’t go starving unless you’ve got some cash to spend. You’re looking at around 50-120 dollars per person.

Must-have? Everything, but especially the eggplant nigiri.

Sides? Yasai cure.

To drink? Ramune is my go-to non-alcoholic choice.

Koriente

My go-to location: The one on E 7th is their one and only location.

Asian-Hispanic mix of the best of both worlds while still nutritious, calorie-aware and you get your money’s worth (read: bigger portions).

Must-have? Rice medallion sauté.

Sides? The vegan summer rolls.

To drink? Their specialty special teas or the jasmine bubble tea.

Easy Tiger

My go-to location: The one on E 6th.

The one and only bar I ever liked? It has ping pong tables by the river and pastries to go with their drinks.

Must-have? A Swedish semla or cinnamon bun when they’re in stock. Pretty and neat drinks overall though.

Sway

My go-to location: The one on South 1st but I’ve heard they’re all equally good.

Thai like you’ve never thought of it before in a swanky interior at a location that looks like it could be the secret lair of a superhero. Often voted best happy hour in Austin.

Must-have? Everything.

Sides? Chinese broccoli.

To drink? Kosmic Black Magic or most things during happy hour.

Bougie’s Donuts

My go-to location: The one on Brodie Lane is their one and only location.

DONUTS! I’m nuts for these. They are a little out of the way but so good - especially fresh out of the oven.

Must-have? EVERYTHING?

An alternative: Gourdough’s on South 1st is pretty insane when it comes to portions and ingredients and is an exciting second but sometimes a bit too much. But aesthetically pleasing, especially at night.

Things to do in Austin besides food

A view from the many floors of the Austin Central Library,

If you’re looking for things to do in-between meals you could…

• See the bats fly out from under the South Congress bridge during sunset in the summer, pick a spot early so you don’t miss it.

• Swim in Barton Springs Pool in the summer (too cold for winter imho).

• Watch improv comedy at The Hideout or The Fallout Theatre in town - the Austin improv scene is great (especially now that I am no longer part of it). Bonus - tickets are usually pretty cheap.

• Have a boozy milkshake and/or an entire meal with your movie at the Alama Drafthouse.

• Go kayaking on the river.

• Check out the Central Library on Cesar Chavez - it has the best view of the south of Austin and it is surrounded by the concrete jungle that is north of the river.

• Look around everywhere, Austin itself is like a big museum of weirdness if you pay attention… and a lot of the time even when you’re not.

Hope I’ve helped you make your trip more delicious and fun!

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Agree/disagree? Tell me @yanjaa on IG or in the comments down below.

Let me know if you try these places out or drop me a line with your favorite food/drink recommendations in Austin.