Vegan Drinks Houston — at Axelrad Beer Garden with Ripe Cuisine and TxJuiceGirl

We may be a diverse group, but one thing that we all have in common is that our ethics and eating choices can make it challenging to coexist in a culture of BBQ and rodeo-loving cognitive dissonance. While we are, no doubt, great ambassadors for the animals and for disease-preventing plant-based eating, it’s empowering to hang with others who think like us and who eat like us!

Houston offers a wonderful array of opportunities to get together including the events, potlucks and restaurant outings organized by: the Vegan Society of Peace (VSOP), Vegan for Life (VFL), the Houston Vegan Meetup Group, Vingles – Vegetarian and Vegan Animal Loving Singles, as well as the Woodlands, Katy West and Galveston veg Meetups and Facebook Groups like Houston Vegan Brunch Crew and Houston Vegans*. But thus far we have not had a regular drinks event, thus Vegan Drinks Houston (inspired by Vegan Drinks NYC at www.vegandrinks.org) was borne.

Our first event will be held at the new and talked-about Axelrad Beer Garden ( http://www.axelradbeergarden.com ) . This bar is in the heart of midtown in an amazing 100-year old renovated building with cleverly designed outdoor space. You’ll find hammocks and picnic tables along with a beautiful light sculpture and video art. And, if you’ve run out of conversation, they offer board games (from Scrabble to chess to Monopoly and checkers) that you can grab and play! The bar was opened by sustainable-minded investors, Jeff Kaplan, Adam Brackman and Monte Large. They offer 31 craft beers on tap along with 95 bottled and canned beers, as well as wine. (Ask the bartender for the list that highlights which drinks are vegan.)

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From the Houston Chronicle: “And though the bar’s culture is steeped deep in Houston, the owner Brackman is quick to give credit where credit’s due. ‘We were inspired by the beer garden at the Standard Hotel under the High Line in New York. We really wanted to create something that built community’…” Brackman said.

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Per Houstonia Magazine: “In a nutshell, Axelrad is all about relaxing and celebrating Houston, al fresco. And what’s not to celebrate in Houston’s first-ever ‘hammock grove’? On the dog-friendly patio, guests are invited to enjoy the laid-back vibe of a neighborhood bar. And if it really is your neighborhood, there are rewards: Those who bike over or use public transportation are treated to a 5 percent discount.”

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While you’re sipping your vegan drink, you can nibble on the delicious vegan chow created by natural foods chef and registered dietitian, Stephanie Hoban, owner of the Ripe Cuisine Food Truck ( http://ripe-cuisine.com/ ). Ripe Cuisine is a healthy, locally sourced, seasonally inspired food truck offering a 100% fully plant-based, vegan menu. Stephanie will offer an oil-free, whole food plant-based VDH special for this event.

You may have tasted her amazing food at one of the farmer’s markets or other locations around town. Her background in both the art and science of cooking means that she crafts every dish rooted in balanced nutrition, utilizing whole, plant-based ingredients with global influences, and innovative twists on ‘traditional’ vegetarian cuisine. (I’m hoping that she offers her to-die-for caprese grilled cheez sandwich that night….)

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From the Houston Press: “In May 2013, Hoban started Ripe Cuisine, a pop-up at Urban Harvest farmers' markets (http://urbanharvest.org/farmersmarkets;jsessionid=FBB8939D8CEF3E4802C0E13707AD567B), where she sold complete vegan meals to customers who often weren't acquainted with all that vegan food could be. In fact, Hoban often serves customers who don't realize at first they're ordering vegan food. They'll ask her for a burger (because, she says, they look like actual burgers), and she'll have to explain that they're vegan.”

Since this event is not just about meeting and greeting, but about networking, please bring literature if you have a vegan or animal-helping business or project or charity to promote. We will have a table for the flyers. Even if you are a vegan accountant, vegan lawyer, vegan real estate agent or whatever, feel free to put some cards down. If you're like me, I would like to support the like-minded and direct my dollars to businesses that indirectly will end up helping animals. ** Please bring your own paperweight to put on your flyers in case it is windy!

IF YOU DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL—or you just like green nutrients along with your beer or wine—Gretchen, the TxJuiceGirl will be serving her special organic Green Apple Ade as a drinks option ( http://www.txjuicegirl.com/) . It's a refreshing blast of organic kale+apple+lemon. Before starting her business she worked at a juice bar and fell in love with the benefits of juicing, "I believe that diet is the biggest contributor to health, disease and overall well-being."

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How to get to the bar: Axelrad is on Alabama, just East of Main Street and between Crawford and LaBranch Street. (I’ve found that my GPS tries to take me on the freeways, but it’s just as easy to drive down West Alabama—if you’re coming from the West, that is.) There is free parking on the corner of LaBranch and Winbern and you can also find some street parking.

Come any time between 6pm and 10pm. Pop in for a short visit or hang out the entire time. (And the bar is open till ‘late so you can linger later if you want to.) Non-alcoholic drinks, including kombucha, will also be available.

How to find our Vegan Group: Look for the healthy-lookin’ folks who are glowing with vibrancy and compassion ;) Actually, when you get carded at the front door, ask where we are stationed. We are not allowed to reserve specific space without paying a large sum of money per head—but I am allowed to arrive early and commandeer some tables to carve out a space.

If it’s raining, we will be inside to the right as you walk in. But if the weather is dry, we will be in one of two places—1)near the Ripe vegan food truck outside in the garden. Look for picnic tables (one ‘sign up’ table with literature promoting fellow vegans work and causes) and/or fellow vegans wearing green stickers OR 2) the balcony on the 2nd floor of the building that overlooks the ‘beer garden.’ * Once I am there on the day of the event and have staked out a spot, I will come back and update this post and let you know exactly where we are. NOTE: Dogs are welcome outside. If you want to bring your pooch baby, double-check on the day of the event before you leave to see if we will be on the building balcony or out in the garden.

If you are on Facebook, please join our FB group: "Vegan Drinks Houston" https://www.facebook.com/groups/1713876845492686/

• Fellow vegans: I include ‘vegetarians’ even though that lifestyle still includes animal cruelty and the ill health effects of consuming dairy. I want to welcome those who are on the path. Most of us were vegetarians once and we can all relate to the fact that sometimes 180-degree change does not happen overnight.

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EVEN IF you RSVPed for THIS event, please make sure to join the group on either FB or Meetup so that you are notified of future events (esp. if you can't make this one.) If you are on Facebook, please join our FB group: "Vegan Drinks Houston" https://www.facebook.com/groups/1713876845492686/ (or click on the name Vegan Drinks Houston above under address of the bar and next to 'created') . IF you are on Meetup, join VDH: https://www.meetup.com/Vegan-Drinks-Houston/ IF you are on neither, please private-message me your email address to get notified.