Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway City Hall Art Exhibition – Artist James Pearce

March 22, 2026March 23, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 91 Comments

Today, we are heading to the Lakeway City Hall to view the art of James Pearce. We are catered by Jacobys of Austin, and our entertainment is Styx.

CHORIZO MIGAS –Queso, Ranchero, Sour Cream, Scrambled Eggs, House Chips & Pico

PATTY MELT – Grilled Meat Loaf, Pimento Cheese, Caramelized Onions, Mushrooms & Fries

SMOKED TURKEY CLUB – Turkey, Bacon, Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato, Aioli & Fries

PIMENTO GRILLED CHEESE – Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion & Fries

SOUTHWEST CAESAR SALAD – Romaine, Avocado, Roasted Corn, Tabasco Croutons, Parmesan & Chipotle Caesar Dressing

JACOBY BEEF HASH – Crispy Sweet Potatoes, Onions, Peppers, Poached Eggs, House BBQ Sauce & House Hollandaise

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK & WAFFLES – House Sausage Gravy & Maple Syrup

STEAK & EGGS – Daily Butcher’s Cut, Sunny Side Up Eggs, Arugula Salad & House Hollandaise

1/2lb Cheeseburger & Fries

SMOKED RIBEYE BENEDICT – Poached Eggs, English Muffin, Arugula & BBQ Hollandaise

Get on the bus.

A view of the gallery.

A bit about the artist.

A Start to The Day.

Sunrise in Monterey.

Drydock with Sawhorses.

Between Days.

Men at Work.

Three Tug Boats.

Waiting for the Siren’s Call.

Fishing Boats in the Bay.

Sail Boat in Drydock.

City Scape

Beginning of a New Day.

Time now for food and music. I hope you have a great week.

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway – Coffee with a Cop

March 15, 2026March 14, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

The Lakeway Police Department hosted an event called Coffee with a Cop. It was an opportunity for the community to meet police officers and leadership informally. The event was on Friday, but through the miracle of time travel, we can go back. We are catered by Maie Day of Austin, and our entertainment is The Police

Gimme burger – wagyu smash burger, the works, gimme sauce, fries

Grilled Half Chicken – Greener Pastures chicken, lemon & honey-brined

Risotto – beets, oyster mushrooms, benne seed

Seared Snapper – Carolina gold rice, brown butter, seasonal vegetables 6 oz

Steak frites – 8 oz sirloin, smoked beef tallow, fries

Chicken Fried Steak – black pepper gravy

Prime Rib – au jus, horseradish cream, burnt onion powder 10oz

Tomahawk Pork Chop – whiskey-brined, pepper glaze 65

Filet Mignon – Outpost 76 Ranch, smoked carrots, whipped turnips, bordelaise 8oz

New York Strip – flake salt, smoked beef tallow 16oz

Ribeye – flake salt, smoked beef tallow 16oz

Porterhouse – bone marrow chimichurri, smoked beef tallow 32oz

Picture of an old time school bus

Ready, set, go.

Here is the abbouncement.

Being held outside Vivel Crepes and Coffee.

People are taking advantage of the opportunity.

Officers on hand.

A new traffic enforcement machine – a Ford Mustang.

Inside the Mustang.

The business end.

A regular police car.

Asst Chief Chris Bonnet (L) and City Council member Kent Obrian (R)

A beautiful motorcycle.

Talking with the officers.

Time now for some food and entertainment.

Views of the Neighborhood – Houston We Have Spring

March 8, 2026March 8, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 83 Comments

Today, we are celebrating the arrival of signs of Spring here in the neighborhood. We are catered by Restaurant François of Austin. Our entertainment is Elvis.

Boneless Wagyu Short Ribs Bourguignon – Bacon lardons/pearl onions, mushroom/pomme mousseline

Duck 2 Ways – Roasted breast/confit leg, alsatian cabbage, tart cherry sauce

Roast Rack of Lamb – Tian of spinach and mushrooms, cassis sauce

Center Cut 10oz. Filet Mignon

Swordfish Steak au Poivre – Spinach/lobster sauce

King Salmon – Beluga lentils/dill white wine sauce

Gulf Red Snapper – Celeriac pomme puree / jumbo lump crab meat – capers / beurre blanc

Dover Sole “Grenobloise” – Capers / lemon / brioche croutons / beurre noisette

Let’s go.

The first bluebonnets.

The Carolina Jasmine is waking up.

The Mountain Laurels around the neighborhood are beautiful.

Nothing says Spring like a pot of annuals.

Our Cross Vine is in full bloom.

The patio area is looking like Spring

The roses are going to town.

Patunias look lovely.

What could be a better sign of Spring than a honey bee hovering over a crossvine bloom?

Time now to relax with food and entertainment. I hope you have a super week.

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway Black History Walk

March 1, 2026February 28, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

Today, we are going to take a brief walk in the park to celebrate Black History Month. Lakeway has 27 stations on the walk. Time and space will only allow us to give you a taste of what is available. If you want to see them all, you can go here and here. We are catered by Corner Restaurant of Austin.

All American – scrambled eggs, crispy breakfast potatoes, sausage or bacon, sourdough toast

Prime Steak & Eggs – flat iron, chimichurri, pickled onion, crispy breakfast potatoes, over-easy egg

Thick-Cut Bacon & Eggs Benny – oven-roasted tomato, grilled asparagus, classic hollandaise

Smoked Brisket Eggs Benny – brisket, chipotle hollandaise, pickled onion

Chicken Fried Chicken – chorizo gravy, grilled corn, roasted tomato, fried egg

Brunch Burger – Brush Creek Ranch wagyu, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, special sauce, fried egg, bacon

Rise N Shine Burrito – scrambled egg, chorizo, jalapeño, bacon, tomato, salsa, queso, crispy breakfast potato

Chicken & Waffle – Belgian waffle, chicken thighs, chipotle maple syrup, fried sage, sunny egg

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s get going.

An explanation.

A view of the trail with the stations installed.

Another view.

Besse Coleman.

Shirley Chisholm.

Jackie Robinson.

Toni Morrison

Minnie Piperton

Jane Bolin.

Fredrick Douglass.

Katherine Johnson.

Thurgood Marshall.

Rosa Parks.

George Washington Carver.

Louis Armstrong.

Well, that’s the sample. Time now to enjoy the food and music. I hope you have a great week.

Views of the Neighborhood – A Little unusual

February 22, 2026February 21, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 84 Comments

Today, we are visiting the neighborhood in search of the unusual. We are catered by Barley Swine of Austin. Our entertainment is Tom Jones.

Fixed Menu

Cured Hiramasa – caramel miso apple, dill ponzu

Baked Big Tree Oyster – kimchi, sesame, coppa

Butternut Squash – brown butter – jalapeno vinaigrette, guajillo queso

Tilefish – chermoula, sweet potato curry, bok choy

Pig Face Carnitas – carrot purée, escabeche, preserved orange

Akaushi Ribeye – 30+ day dry aged, broccoli gremolata, sunchoke creamed kale

Tarragon Whip – strawberry-grapefruit sorbet, fennel fudge

Pecan Texas Layer Cake – miso pecan praline, pink pineapple, carrot ice cream

Picture of an old time school bus

Hop on the bus

All but the tree photo by The Producer

Gecko. in the sun.

Viceroy on final approach.

Hummingbird moth approaching the pansies.

The hummingbird moth is taking a big drink.

A swallowtail (not sure what kind. Might be a Pipevine or Spicebush.)

I got the fence color.

A big bumblebee is lunching at the crossvine.

Blending into the environment. (an Irish goodbye)

Good reason to blend in. A red-shouldered hawk is on the lookout for breakfast.

I’ve included this red bud because it is the earliest it has bloomed.

Time now to enjoy the food and music. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Views of the Neighborhood – Brown Bag Concert at the Lakeway Activity Center

February 15, 2026February 15, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 57 Comments

By the miracle of time travel, we are going to visit the Valentine brown bag concert sponsored by the Lakeway Arts Committee. We are catered by La Barbecue of Austin. Our entertainment after the concert will be Sly and the Family Stone

La Frito Loco – Pulled pork, chopped brisket, chipotle slaw, black beans, Fritos, cheese, and jalapenos.

Chi-Town Pinata – Chicago-style hot dog with la barbecue traditional hotgut topped with dill relish, sport peppers, pickle spears, onion, and yellow mustard

Bobby Dawg – Housemade jalapeno sausage with your choice of brisket or pulled pork, topped with black beans, cheese, onions, jalapenos, and yellow mustard

Frito Pie – Chopped brisket, pulled pork, or la Barbecue chili, housemade pickled jalapenos, cheddar cheese, black beans, diced white onion

Chili Cheese Dawg – Housemade sausage, la Barbecue chili, cheddar cheese, diced onion, mustard, and jalapenos

Sloppy Ho – Chopped brisket, la Barbecue chili

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s go

Here’s the poster. Grammy winner Red Young and Silvie Rider Young.

Yup, we are in the right place.

Sound check and getting ready.

Valentine’s table centerpiece.

Red and Silvie are talking to audience members before the concert.

The stage is ready.

The chairperson of the Arts Committee with a few comments and introductions.

Red and Silvie take the stage.

Red begins the set with solo piano work.

Looks like folks are enjoying the music.

Looks like it’s time for food and more music. I hope you have a great week.

Views of the Neighborhood – Deer Check

February 8, 2026February 7, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 78 Comments

With so little going on around town, I thought we would take a moment to check out the deer. We are catered by Le Calamar of Austin. Our entertainment is Steve Martin, Jackson Browne, and Alison Brown

Steak Tartare pain de mie, comte

Let’s get going.

There they are approaching the carrot handout spot at my house.

Gotta be careful when the miser is getting on his bike.

“Okay, Bud. There is nothing to see here. You can take that bike and underlay burro.”

“Now that he’s gone, we can eat in peace. Come on, ladies. It’s safe.”

The first brave doe.

The rest of the ladies enjoy their carrots.

A different group in the sun.

This year’s fawn.

Looks like he wants me to move on, too.

The deer seem happy and healthy, so it is time for food and music. I hope you have a delightful week.

Views of the Neighborhood – Leftover Holiday Decorations

February 1, 2026February 1, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 68 Comments

Now that all the ice is gone from the neighborhood and the holidays are past, let’s take a tour and see how many decorations are left over. We are catered by Aba in Austin. Our entertainment is NSYNC.

BLACKBERRY DROP BISCUIT – blackberry compote, balsamic whipped cream

AVOCADO TOAST – pomegranate, preserved lemon, mint

AÇAÍ BOWL – blueberry, banana, pomegranate, dukkah, coconut, mint

KHACHAPURI – baked egg, cremini mushroom, graviera, green onion

SHORT RIB SHAKSHUKA – local eggs, spicy harissa, graviera, roasted potato

KEFTA & EGGS – lamb & beef kefta, fried eggs, tzatziki, lemon dill rice

SHAWARMA-SPICED SKIRT STEAK & EGGS – fried eggs, crispy potato, tzatziki

JERUSALEM BAGEL & SMOKED SALMON SPREAD – sumac red onion, tomato, caper, labneh

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s get on the bus.

Okay, we have some wreaths and lights. It could be a winter decoration, but maybe not.

Deflated penguin from Frozen. Not only left over but sad.

Definitely left over lights and a hat. Let’s not even discuss the green folks, dragons, and other stuff.

Definitely need to come down. Leftover decorations.

Holiday decorations for sure. I hope whatever is in the packages is water- and freeze-resistant.

Holiday lights for sure, unless these folks need the light to find the front door.

Could be playmates for the deer in the neighborhood. Nah. Leftover decoration

A beacon for the mail person? I don’t think so. Leftover decoration.

Yes, I had to take the photo from behind, but it still counts as a leftover decoration.

At least it is out of the house. So it doesn’t count as a leftover decoration.

We have finished the tour, and it is time for food and music. I hope you have a lovely week.

Views of the Neighborhood – Getting Ready for Iceageddon

January 25, 2026January 24, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 89 Comments

Today, we are going to tour the neighborhood to see how folks have prepared for the below-freezing temperatures that will persist until Monday. Texas has not been spared from the misery of the massive winter storm that has affected over 240 million Americans. We are catered by Briskets in Austin. Our entertainment is Foreigner.