Here in Austin, bicyclists are getting the royal treatment with freebies galore, and there are tons of events listed at Bike to Work Austin for those with pedals to spin.

This Friday, May 18 is “Ride Your Bike to Work Day,” which means all kinds of free food and drinks being given away! Click here to download a map of all the participating venues. Or, if you’re in a rush, here’s a quick run-down of the sponsors listed on the map.

BIKE SHOPS:

• Freewheeling Cycles
• Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop
• The Peddler Bike Shop
• Yellow Bike Project
• Jack and Adam’s Bicycles
• Tsunami Cycles
• AJ’s Cyclery
• Bicycle Sport Shop
• Clown Dog Bikes
• Ozone Bike Department
• Bike Texas
• Fast Folks Cyclery

FOOD & DRINK:

• Thunderbird Coffee/Mi Madre’s
• Dolce Vita
• Blue Dahlia Bistro
• Halcyon
• Bouldin Creek Cafe
• Wheatsville Co-op
• It’s A Grind
• Whole Foods

ASSORTED SERVICES:

• Luke’s Locker
• Recycled Reads
• Bird’s Barbershop
• City Hall
• Austin Police Department
• Faith United Methodist Church
• Various metro stations

And don’t forget to follow @RideYourBike on Twitter for the latest and greatest tweets and deets.

Personally, I’m looking forward to Austin’s bike share program, which is reportedly making its way up from San Antonio within the next couple of years. If anyone’s got actual dates on this one, I’d love to hear about it. Hit me up in the comments with any news on that front!

UPDATE – MAY 11: This event has been postponed until May 17 due to rain!

I must admit I’m torn on this event, as I loathe the Chronicle, but my love for the Austin Public Library far outweighs the many beefs I have with our city’s rag of choice. So, with my blessing, please attend the annual Adult Spelling Bee on Thursday, May 10 to benefit the library’s new digital reading collection!

Deets are as follows:

This is an adults-only spelling bee, so leave the youn’uns at home. 21+ drinking types can get buzzed while the bee does, and maybe learn a thing or two about EDU-MA-CAY-SHUN and VO-CAB-A-LARRY. Study up, bro, these words will be on the test!

WHEN: Thursday, May 10 17

WHERE: Threadgill’s World HQ (aka 301 W. Riverside)

REGISTRATION runs from 4:30 to 6 PM, the first test will take place around 6:15 PM, the second around 7 PM and finals at 7:30 PM

Prizes! Minimal $3 entry fee! Booze! Ebooks for APL! Kick it with 2011 winner Geoff Thevenot! It’s all good and the price is right, so c’mon dowwwwwwwwn!

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is kicking off the week-long praise of tacos, Latin music and film with a free event from noon to 3 p.m. featuring plenty of tacos, refreshments, children’s activities, a taco piñata and live music by Southwest Key Ballet Folklorico, Tejano star AJ Castillo and “Cruisin’ Muzic King” Trampia Guzman. Since it’s a free event, the Capital Area Food Bank is encouraging attendees to bring non-perishable food items for donation, in lieu of entry fees.

Dude, I’m going just for the taco piñata. If there’s anything that classes up the joint, it’s beating the crap out of a papier-mâché likeness of your favorite food. Seriously, it gives you, me and the entire Lone Star State a reason to live, right Pedro?

In addition to all this taco-eating madness, don’t forget to check out “¡Ask A Mexican!” author Gustavo Arellano at BookPeople on Wednesday, May 9 from 7 to 8 p.m. He’ll be reading from his latest book, Taco USA, all about the mighty taco and how it conquered America as our nation’s favorite food.

There’s also the the Cine las Americas film screening on May 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. and the Pachanga Music Festival on May 11 and 12. Quite a week!

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is located at 600 River Street, and BookPeople is located at 603 N. Lamar. For full deets, check out Latinometro.

Mobile polling places open today, April 30, include:

• Huston‐Tillotson University – Davage‐Durden Student Union (900 Chicon Street) from 8 a.m. to noon
• Dailey Middle School (14000 Westall Street) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Popham Elementary School (7014 Elroy Road) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• St. Edwards University – Ragsdale Center (3001 South Congress Avenue) from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

You can also find additional locations for early voting (which runs from April 30 to May 8) on this downloadable PDF from the city.

Now, you may not give a rat’s ass about who’s in charge of the City of Austin, but you should still get the lead out and vote. Why? Here are my top five reasons:

5. “Because I said so. And I am your god, therefore you must do whatever I say, lest I smite thee.” This is a direct quote from Jesus himself. Trust me, y’all, the big JC spoke to me, and he told me he wants your ass in a voting booth.

4. As the immortal James Brown once said, you’ve got to get on the scene like a sex machine. It takes literally five minutes to vote. Hit it and quit it, my friends.

3. If you don’t vote, your right to bitch about the election’s outcomes is actually suspended. I’m pretty sure this is legally enforcible with fines and such, so you don’t want to mess with that nonsense, friend. Bitching about shady politicians is your god-given right… but only if you checked some boxes on a ballot first.

2. The eSlate is some sweet-ass technology. In fact, it’s a lot like your iPad or Kindle Fire. You like technology, don’tcha? Well, hit up your election booth and play with some of the latest and greatest in electronic voting gadgetry!

1. Do you really want to end up in a situation like the incidents portrayed in my book, Rebels of the 512, where ninjas attack the Capitol, pirates blow the city all to hell with a rocket launcher, and the Governor ends up using our Rainy Day Fund for pure evil? I thought not. Grab a copy of my book for complete details, then get out there and vote, you crazy rebels!

Questions? Call 512-238-VOTE (8683) or hit up traviscountyelections.org to clear up any confusion.

Foster cats looking for forever homes will be available on the fourth weekend of each month (that’s today!), in search of reliable human companions to give them the love and attention they deserve. Find your own Henri and share a life of French philosophical jokes and existential ennui:

Adoption costs just $35, and all kitties come with a clean bill of health: they’re spayed/neutered, microchipped and up-to-date on vaccinations—a total savings of $200. If that’s not a crazy cat deal for a crazy cat lady or gent, then I ask you: what is?

C’mon down, cat lovers. Shake your rumps on over to Austin Animal Center and find a feline friend today!

Austin Animal Center is located at 7201 Levander Loop. For more info, call 3-1-1.

Hey Cupcake – As a food trailer staple, Hey Cupcake now has four mobile locations and one brick-and-mortar shop here in town. Claiming to have gotten started with a desire to share their vanilla dreams, Hey Cupcake’s founders are dedicated to making the most delicious cupcakes in the world. Visit their South Congress location to sample their wares, along with an army of other food trailers, some of which are also on this list!

"hey cupcake!" (photo by Flickr user atmtx)

Izzoz Tacos – Get all the old favorites like crispy beef, or the new and inventive shrimp tempura tacos at Izzoz. Just a few blocks away from Hey Cupcake, on South 1st Street, nothing on the Izzoz Tacos menu is over six bucks and most of it hovers around three. Enjoy both the deliciousness and the price!

"Izzoz Taco Truck" (photo by Flickr users Kok Chih & Sarah Gan)

Coat and Thai – Vegan friendly, and just plain friendly, Coat and Thai is a stone’s throw from Hey Cupcake in the SoCo Food Court. They offer delicious Thai cuisine made to order, and to quote their website, they “only use the freshest ingredients. No MSG.”

Coat and Thai (image via C&T Facebook page)

Franklin Barbecue – Aaron Franklin is doing something very right. He’s a magician with meats; there’s no simpler way to put it. Located on East 11th Street, this little eatery was named Best BBQ in America by Bon Appetit Magazine. When you visit, get there early, because like most food trailers, he closes when he’s sold out, and he sells out fast.

The infamous Franklin BBQ sign (photo by Flickr user Boz Bros)

Sno Beach – This little trailer on Barton Springs Road will always have a place in Austin’s heart. Nothing goes with a day of swimming or kayaking (or anything, really!), like a Sno Beach sno cone. Touting crazy flavors like Tiger’s Blood and Fuzzy Navel, this writer’s favorite remains the Wedding Cake.

Sno Beach truck (photo by Flickr user alachia)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nicole Martinez is a marketing assistant at Realty Austin, your source for downtown Austin condos and luxury Lake Austin homes. Nicole loves exploring new ways to enjoy Austin on a budget, from self-guided food trailer tours to social cycling.

Shakespeare’s 448th Birthday Party at Richard Garriott’s Castle.

Yes, you read that right. Austin’s got its own castle, and it’s owned by game developer Richard Garriott. He’s hosting the party, on the shores of Lake Austin, to support Shakespeare in the Park productions and Austin Shakespeare (the company that produces the free performances).

There’s going to be a fort, a pirate ship, Shakespearean scene performances, live music, scavenger hunts, games, crafts, fencing, bocce ball, food, beverages and birthday cake. YOWZA!

If you just want to make it in time for cake, hit ‘em up at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets for the event are $12 for adults, $7 for children under 12, and free admission for children 2 and under.

Shakespeare’s Birthday Party is happening at 7400 Coldwater Canyon Drive this Saturday, April 21 from noon to 4 p.m. so be there or be a pribbling dread-bolted knave! (P.S. Don’t forget to brush up on your Shakespearean Insult Generator to talk the talk, my cock of the walk.)

Yep, the Texas Rowing Center offers monthly rowing excursions on Lady Bird Lake for just $10 per person throughout the summer. You get to hear local musicians play live Latin music AND you get to paddle around in a kayak or canoe with your sweetie by the light of the moon. You can even bring your own food and (non-alcoholic) beverages to make it a full-fledged date night. (Or if you’ve got kids, bring ‘em along for $5 each.)

Here’s a video of the event, to get an idea of what you can expect:

Latino Moonlight Serenades start check-in at 7 p.m. and launch at 7:30 p.m. on these dates (weather permitting):

• May 4 (Fri)
• June 1 (Fri)
• July 1 (Fri)
• July 29 (Sun)
• Aug 31 (Fri)
• Sept 28 (Fri)

For more information, or to register for an upcoming event, call Federico at 512-965-5267 or email him at federico@texasrowingcenter.com. Happy Moonlight Serenading!

Sadly, lots of protein—in this case—does not a tasty breakfast make.

While the Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls do only take 3 minutes to heat up, this failure pile in a sadness bowl (thank you, Patton Oswalt, for the appropriate lingo) is decidedly lacking in both the taste department and aesthetic appeal.

Here’s what I suggest instead of the weird frozen eggs, minimal sausage and cafeteria-style potatoes: EGG BOWL À LA SHOESTRING

1. Grab two eggs and your milk (or cream) from the fridge.
2. Crack the eggs into a decent sized bowl (i.e. small enough to fit into your microwave, big enough to hold 2 eggs with some extra room for them to expand).
3. Pour in a little bit of milk and whip those eggs with a fork until they’re frothy.
4. Stick this mixture in the microwave for one minute. Stir. Return to microwave and heat for another minute or so. You’ll know they’re done when you can see the eggs rising up the side of your bowl, threatening to climb over the sides like a blobby monster that wants to eat YOU for breakfast. (They should still be slightly moist at this point. DO NOT OVERHEAT!)
5. Grate some cheese on top and let ‘er melt/cool down for about a minute.
6. Transfer eggs to a plate or slap ‘em into a tortilla for a breakfast taco and enjoy.

3 minutes to deliciousness. No sadness bowls. No failure piles. Just good eatin’. You can also jazz this up into a microwavable fiesta by adding a spoonful or two of your favorite salsa on top of the eggs, and slicing up an avocado to put underneath. Go all out and put a little sour cream on top and you’re in heaven. Trust me, your stomach will thank you.

And stay away from the Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls! As this blogger backs me up, those things are lethal.

Here are just a few of my favorites from around town, along with links to our more detailed write-ups.

• Ice cream at Amy’s Ice Cream – Celebrity Intern and I will argue about this one all day, because he loves his Häagen-Dazs (and I can’t lie, so do I), but Amy’s definitely gives our supermarket fave a run for its money, especially when someone says “Vanilla is vanilla, what’s so special about—MMMMMM!” after tasting their Mexican Vanilla; their seasonal specials and rotating daily offerings will keep you coming back for more
• Beanitos chips and Texas-Texas salsa (available at H-E-B, Whole Foods and Central Market) – a tasty, healthy alternative to corn chips, all made locally!
• Iced mocha at Epoch Coffee – the best iced mocha in Austin really hits the spot on a 105-degree day
• Fresh Plus Grocery – this place is so mom-and-pop that they don’t yet have a website, but their prices on upscale food items like gourmet cheeses, wines and beer plus amazingly fresh and beautiful fruits and veggies make stopping at any of their three locations (Hyde Park, Clarksville and a brand-new Allandale store) a delicious adventure for the home chef on a budget
• Hot chocolate at Caffé Medici – it’s on the pricy side, but it’s well worth it for the smoothest, creamiest hot chocolate in town (the secret is a homemade chocolate sauce, which the barista is on pain of death never to reveal to nosey food bloggers like me)
• Salgadinhos at Rio’s Brazilian – I still don’t know how to properly pronounce these dealios, but they’re savory stuffed pastries kind of like a Hot Pocket but about a billion times tastier
• Pho at Saigon Kitchen – choose from fatty or lean meat, or get a crazy mixture of both and build your own soup sensation
• Breakfast tacos at Taco Cabana – because they’re cheap, I love their green salsa, and you can get $1 off pretty much every time you go if you fill out the survey at the bottom of your reciept, plus they’re near my house and convenience is sometimes king
• Tacos at La Tapatia – the trip up north is worth it, as these tacos are always tender and delicious (and while you’re in the neighborhood, there’s a Half Price Books across the street worth hitting for some inexpensive reading materials)

Additional cheap eats to seek out, via Erin McReynolds, editor of Fearless Critic Austin:

• G’raj Mahal
  

  G'raj Mahal (image via Flickr user Justin Oliphant / FriendofaFriendProject)

• Taco More
• Teji’s Foods
• Franklin BBQ
• A+A Sichuan Cuisine
• Noble Pig
• Burgers at Casino El Camino
• Al pastor sopes at La Canaria
• Rice cake and dumpling soup at New Oriental Market

Recommendations for $5 or less treats via Crystal Esquivel, author of The Food Lover’s Guide to Austin:

• Curry buns at East Side King @ Liberty Bar
• Migas taco at El Primo
• Consome de Cabrito (Goat Consomme) at Taco More
• A slice of cheese pizza at Little Deli
• A bowl of the soup of the day (it comes with yummy bread) at San Francisco Bakery & Cafe
• Mounds Bar snow cone at Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs
• A few doughnuts at Mrs. Johnson’s Bakery
• Egg salad sandwich and chips at Thundercloud Subs
• A fruit cup with chile and lime at F&F Fruit Cups
• Samosa Chaat at Tarka
• Cheese bread from Phoenicia Bakery & Deli

And Twitter recommendations from some of our followers!

• Hill Country Pierogis (@ATXPierogiTruck)
• Bits & Druthers – “best fish and chips in town” (@bitsanddruthers)
• Tom’s Tabooley Thai Salad (via @aneelee)
• Pho Saigon “large bowl of pho” (via @bearpatrol)
• Torchy’s Tacos (via @mikegalante)
• “Soy milk and fried dough at Asia Café only on Saturday mornings, pork bone ramen at Komé for lunch only” (via @pwang)
• Hopfields – “French-style street food” (via @jen_stamps)

So tell us, what’s YOUR favorite cheap eatery in town?