Things to Do in Seguin

The artisans at Stained Glass Crafters Workbench live by a simple maxim: don’t throw stones. While they may not live in glass houses, their works are all made of stained, leaded, fused, and mosaic glass. So, instead of tossing rocks, they spend their time training the next generation of artists in glass-artwork classes, where they teach students how to fashion everything from colorful light switches to standalone wall pieces. Students create art pieces, such as plant hooks and pendants, as well as custom artwork that brightens moody dens or tastefully hide the miniature black holes they didn't notice before they moved in.

Giggle N Jump's bright, clean, 11,000-square-foot play center thrills frolicking young ones with a massive collection of bounce houses, interactive stations, and slides. As children burn off excess energy and make new friends in the engaging environment, parents can supervise little ones' progress from outside the play area or join kids in the fun. A separate section entertains infants and toddlers, the tiniest kiddies, keeping them safe as they explore and bounce.

The Austin Beer Fest brings together a host of breweries that teases tongues with more than 500 brews under one roof. While guests explore the event, brewers from Southern Star Brewing Company to Circle Brewing Company distribute samples as sponsor Guadalupe Brewing Company debuts new brews and Sam Adams pours rarely seen exclusive varieties. Fest-goers receive six tickets redeemable for beer samples and can purchase more tickets for $2 apiece or opt to purchase a 12-ounce cup of a newly discovered favorite.

While patrons meander through the vast aisles of samples, tasting brews and feeling welcome to make public displays of beer affection, three music stages serenade quaffers with the tunes of DJ Trouble, 10 Years, and other local rock, hip-hop, and electronic acts. The Austin Beer Fest also plays to patrons’ competitive sides with beer-pong and flip-cup tournaments and hosts food vendors selling brew-complementary fare from brats to crayfish.

Working in teams of two, participants straddle either tandem or single-person bikes at the starting line. Together, teams decipher eight clues hidden in riddles and pictures that will lead them to their next destination. By cycling along bike trails in search of photo ops, the Austin Riddle Ride gives competitors a fun reason to explore their city and get outside beyond the reach of their television sets and codependent couches. Taking part in the Riddle Ride gives a spiritual boost beyond the physical benefit as well because profits from the event will go to Stand Up for Kids, a non-profit that organizes outreach programs to help stabilize homeless youths.

Sky Lanterns are handmade and imported from China, where traditional lanterns have lifted off for centuries and are considered good luck. Packs of pristine lanterns, each about the size of a large beach ball or a 1/100,000-scale model of Jupiter, float peacefully into the sky, propelled by hot air wafting from a small flame within. After about 15 minutes of flight, flames self-extinguish, and the fire-resistant lantern body gently falls and begins to completely biodegrade. Launching Chinese sky lanterns can lend extra pomp and symbolism to events such as memorial services, weddings, and driver’s ed class reunions.

When photographed just right, the bend of a wrought-iron beam or the curve of a stalk of wheat can look just like a letter of the alphabet. This creative observation captured the attention of photographer Crystal Copeland––a graduate of the New York Institute of Photography––who became inspired to seek out more outdoor features that could double as letters. With the help of her business-savvy husband, Lee, Copeland strung these letters into words and began selling them at an online store—Frame The Alphabet.

The site's interactive letter bank houses a vast collection of Crystal's photos, which can be used to spell out names and words. You may wish to work in visual thematics, crafting names entirely out of sports images for the family athlete or creating an ironic counterpoint to words such as nature with images of city signs, industrial faucets, and spinning cogs. The selected word is then encased within a brown or black frame made from real pinewood or printed onto a single, wooden gallery block, which comes ready to hang. The signature-board option further customizes the piece with a blank matte board and an 8"x10" space where you can insert a personal picture.