Tag: Views of the Neighborhood

Views of the Neighborhood – Potpourri

~ John W. Howell ~ 93 Comments

As you can see from the headline, we are going to see different things today. We are catered by Salty Sow in Austin. Our entertainment is Pink who is appearing here in Austin at the Austin City Limits festival and agreed to stop by.

Menu

STARTERS

TRUFFLED DEVILED EGGS Salty Sow bacon bits

SALTY SOW CHARCUTERIE + CHEESE BOARD all the fixin’s, toasted baguette

ROASTED BONE MARROW bacon + gruyere crust, toasted baguette

TRIPLE-FRIED DUCK FAT FRIES cold bearnaise, 110-minute egg

CHICKEN LIVER MOUSSE IN A JAR apple gelee, pickled red onion, toast

SALAD

BRUSSELS SPROUT CAESAR SALAD candied almonds, dried cranberries, parmesan

ROASTED ORGANIC BEETS goat cheese, pistachio vinaigrette

VEGETABLES

YUKON GOLD MASHED POTATOES neck bone gravy

BBQ HOMINY  BROCOLINI toasted pecan brown butter, pecorino

COLLARD GREENS smoked ham hocks

CHEESE GRITS

QUINOA + LENTILS

CRISPY BRUSSELS SPROUT LEAVES  golden raisins, pecorino

MAINS

CRISP CHICKEN THIGHS fried smashed potatoes, neck bone gravy

CANDIED PORK BELLY collard greens, pot licker, soy balsamic syrup

RANGER CATTLE WAGYU CHEESEBURGER  add pork belly · add egg
caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, pickles, Salty Sow special sauce, duck fat fries

SLOW COOKED BEEF SHOULDER mashed potatoes, glazed local carrots, fried egg

PETITE BONE-IN FILETS mixed mushrooms, red wine sauce

SMOKED PORK CARNITAS add guacamole tomatillo salsa, tortillas, bbq hominy

GENUINE BLACKENED REDFISH quinoa + lentils, smoked tomato, chipotle tabasco lemon butter

DESSERT

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE whipped cream, raspberry sauce

BUTTERSCOTCH BUDINO salted caramel, sweet crème fraîche

BANANA FOSTERS BEIGNETS vanilla ice cream

INNISKILLIN VIDAL – ICE WINE Niagara peninsula, Canada, 2019

RECCHIA recchioto classico, veneto, italy, 2016

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s get on the bus

Our first encounter is with an Axis Deer and a middle-aged white-tailed buck. Rumor has it the deer escaped from a local exotic ranch years ago. A native of India the Axis was introduced to Texas in 1932. Looks like he has made friends.

I tried to get closer but no dice. At least we get a view of the back of those beautiful antlers.

The dawn brings a demonstration of affection among the high schoolers.

Dawn also brings a group of does having coffee.

We’ve seen this peacock before but now the mailbox and it has had a redo.

I call this “Chair at Dawn.” I guess the trash pick-up gave a pass to this one.

Here is a photo of my favorite quiet place in the greenbelt. It was taken last year.

Here is the place today. You can see we need rain badly.

I thought this manzanita tree looked good nestled in the Oak and touched by the sun.

A shot of the circulating fountain in the greenbelt. Another favorite.

Whew. This was a fright. Even though we may think of Halloween this is a regular feature on a new resident’s mailbox. Not sure of the message here. Borrowing a cup of sugar is definitely not in the cards.

Gotta love the elephant. Didn’t want to do a string of mail toppers but couldn’t resist this one. I wonder how long before it is spray-painted blue.

Our final stop is to admire some of our doe neighbors. The darker one could be a melanistic deer which are all black and makeup about 8% of the population. The Producer is unsure so we’ll just admire the difference.

That is the tour today. I hope you enjoyed it. Now sit back and enjoy the food and music. I hope you all have a great week.

Views of the Neighborhood – Model Display by Bruce Foster of Lakeway

~ John W. Howell ~ 94 Comments

Today we are heading to the Lakeway Activity Center. Employee Bruce Foster has shared a small portion of his model cars at the Activity Center through October 15. Bruce says he has well over 500 in his current collection and has probably given away that many.

As usual, we will have food, and in keeping with the display, we will be going to the Sonic® Drive-In. Our entertainment is Wilson Pickett singing what else but Mustang Sally.

Menu

Picture of an old time school bus

Here’s the bus. Let’s get going.

Here we are at the Activity Center.

Here’s Bruce. Being the younger sibling of teenage car enthusiast brothers, Bruce began appreciating cars at 8 years of age, and model cars were a welcomed gift for birthdays and holidays. As a result, Bruce has entered and won many contests, and he has been a judge as well.

Some utility vehicles and a hot rod. Notice the windshield treatment.

A yellow cab, a Chevy flatbed, and a Ford pickup. Also, a motor scooter.

A 1934 pickup with the kit. A model A hot rod Ford and a Chevy pickup.

Model A Ford flatbed, Mercury coupe, and Chevy Nova station wagon

Original kit boxes.

A Ford utility truck, a Jeep utility vehicle, and a Ford Crown Victoria Service vehicle

Custom Woody, Hot Rod, and Jeep CJ5

More original kit boxes.

That wraps up the tour I hope you liked it. Now relax and enjoy the music. I hope you have a great week.

 

Views of the Neighborhood – OG Agave’s Plant Paradise

~ John W. Howell ~ 85 Comments

Today we are going to a cactus and succulent purveyor in Lakeway. I think you will be amazed at the beauty and number of plants. Mary Caroline and Matthew Shreves began their business on Instagram and opened a storefront in March this year. The couple has over 1000 cacti, agave, and succulents online and at the store. Here is a Link to their website, which is worth the visit

Our drink and food offering is going to be a little different. In keeping with our visit to a unique plant place, we are being catered by Bar 508. Yes, there are plenty of drink selections with food. However, for those who need to be closer to five O’clock, all drinks can be made without alcohol. Also, there is plenty of Topo Chico water. Our entertainment closely fits the drinks, food, and plants. We have a Mariachi band playing for us.

Cocktails
508 – Tequila, Lime, & Agave
Paloma Royale -Tequila, Grapefruit, Citrus, & Grapefruit Soda
Ponche – Citrus Vodka, St. Germain, Citrus, & Peychaud Bitters
Rosalita Milk Punch – Campari, Tequila, Cocchi Rosa, Cocchi Torino, Clarified Milk
Mezcal Toreado – Mezcal, Bergamot, Lime, & Apricot
Oaxaca Old Fashion – Reposado Tequila, Cognac, Amaro, Grand Marnier, & Bitters
El Diablo – Mezcal, Blackberry, Cassis, Lime, & Ginger Beer
La Casa Marg – Tequila, Mezcal, Ancho Reyes Verde, Lime, Salt, & Chili
Clover Club – Gin, Raspberry, Lemon, & Egg White
Elote Collins – Tequila, Citrus, Basil, Nixta Licor de Elote, Mango Wine, Watermelon, & Basil
Midnight Manhattan – Tequila, Mezcal, Sweet Vermouth, & Pear
El Capitan – Cognac, Bourbon, Honey, Earl Grey Tea, & Sweet Vermouth
Food
Street Tacos – Chicken Jicama grilled chicken, habanero pickled carrots, fresh mint, lemon-infused sour cream
Carnitas – pulled pork, pickled cabbage, jack cheese, poblano crema
Bahn Mi – Grilled chicken, fresh jalapeno, shredded carrots, cilantro, house-made aioli
Carne Guisada – Marinated grilled steak, cilantro, onions, lime
Verde – Black beans, spinach, zucchini, cilantro, jack cheese, pico
Spicy Shrimp – Grilled jerk shrimp, garlic, lime, zucchini, pico pina, serrano sauce
Whitefish – Seasoned grilled whitefish, coleslaw, queso fresco, salsa verde
Classic – ground beef or shredded chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, blended cheese
Picture of an old time school bus

So let’s get on the bus and get going.

Here is the sign welcoming us into the compound.

Lovely plants on a rustic bench

A selection of outdoor cacti and agaves.

Beautiful cacti and agaves

A selection includes golden barrel cacti and an Agave Americana at the rear of the photo.

Inside the greenhouse are specimens for indoors and out.

Flowering and other succulents.

More varieties of cacti, agave, and succulents

Some cacti have unusual shapes and appearances.

Good examples of Crested Mexican Fence Post cacti on the right and center.

Yes, you can get the shirt.

Wide varieties for the home.

An example of a monkey-tailed cactus in bloom.

Couldn’t resist this monkey-tailed cactus shot.

Fascinating group.

A great variety.

One more shot of the terrific variety and selection.

That is the tour. So relax, have some food and drink and enjoy Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán – El Son De La Negra / Guadalajara.

 

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway Cornhole Tournament

~ John W. Howell ~ 91 Comments

Today we are going to the first annual cornhole tournament in Lakeway. It is a double elimination open to teams of two. We are being catered by Craig Os Pizza. Our entertainment is

Menu

SPECIALTY PIZZAS

The venue is the community of Rough Hollow in Lakeway. They have a splash pool.

There is our catering truck and some ice cream for dessert.

Air bush art for the kids

Ballon art.

Bounce house.

Foam ax throwing

Barbershop quartet for entertainment.

Trophies and prizes.

There it is. The cornhole target.

Spectators.

The field of play. That red dot is a beanbag headed for the cornhole.

A total of 22 teams signed up. The weather cooperates, with a high of only 90 degrees F (32.2 C).

The winner is the “Aggie Airmail” team.

I hope you enjoyed the tournament; now, let’s have some pizza and enjoy the entertainment.

 

Views of the Neighborhood – Potpourri

~ John W. Howell ~ 95 Comments

Since not much is happening in Lakeway this week, I thought we would just take a bike ride and check up on a few things. I’ve still ordered catering from Dee Dee’s Thai food truck in Austin. Our entertainment is Allman Brothers.

Menu

Pad KaPow – Spicy stir-fried pork sauteed in our homemade chili paste, with fried Thai basil & fried egg. Comes on jasmine rice, a side of chili fish sauce, “pik nam pla,” & sliced cucumber.

Laab Moo – VERY SPICY!! North-eastern style minced pork cooked in our slow roasted herbal chili rice powder, Thai herbs, mint, lime, onion & cilantro. Served with sticky rice & sliced cucumber.

Om Gai (Stew) – Spicy rustic herbal chicken in our homemade chili-paste broth, with dill, lemongrass, spring onion & Thai basil. Served with sticky rice.

Tofu Stir-fry – Tofu, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms. Stir-fried in our homemade chili paste, Northern Thai sauces & spices.

Som Tom (Papaya Salad – Original) – Fresh green papaya salad bashed to order with cherry tomatoes, green beans, Thai chilis & peanuts in our tamarind fish sauce. Served with sticky rice.

Isaan Som Tom (Fermented Pungent Papaya Salad) – VERY SPICY! Pungent, funky papaya salad with our house fermented fish sauce & salted crab shell (“Puu Plaa Raa”) with Thai chilis bashed to order. Served with sticky rice.

Moo Ping – Single order is snack size with two sweet & savory pork skewers, marinated in our special sauce for 48 hours. Served with a small side of sticky rice & tamarind-based dipping sauce. Eat with your hands! To make it meal size, double the order!

Pickled Salad – Light and refreshing vegetable side dish. 8oz container.

Mango & Sticky Rice – Mildly sweet Thai dessert. Sticky rice massaged & soaked in coconut milk overnight w/ sliced ripe mango and a coconut milk drizzle on top.

Thai Iced Tea – Black tea over ice with condensed milk and a splash of half and half.

Plus anything else you want to drink.

So hop on your bike, and let’s go.

A reminder that we live with the deer.

And as luck would have it, we come upon a yard full of deer and a Toyota.

Looks like the monster house is starting to get ready for Halloween already.

Thes bouganvilla look terrific. Had to use the zoom feature to get them, which is a little blurry.

The Texas sage is in bloom from the rain. Here is what a well-trimmed bush looks like.

Here is what a not trimmed bush looks like. Way more blooms.

An older fawn crossing the road.

Two younger fawns out on their own.

A deer and Labor Day decorations.

Vinca flowers everywhere.

Mexican birds of paradise in the foreground and crape myrtle in the background.

I hope you enjoyed the bike ride and will have a super week. Kick off those sports shoes and relax with Thai food and the Allman Brothers. Rambling Man described the post today.

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway Activity Center Art Show

~ John W. Howell ~ 81 Comments

Yes, today we are going to the Lakeway Activity Center, where an art show is in progress. These are local artists and in addition to the show at the Activity Center, several artists have opened their studios for visits. We won’t be going to those since I don’t think the artists will be prepared for a visit from our group. We are being catered by Patrizi’s Food truck in Austin. Our entertainment is  ZZ Top.

Pomodoro – traditional Italian red sauce made from local tomatoes, garlic confit, and butter served with house farm cheese and a tuft of basil.
Patrizi’s Red Sauce – family recipe tomato sauce stewed with onions, garlic, garden herbs, pork trimmings, and grana Padano cheese

Cacio e Pepe – grana Padano cheese, fresh cracked black pepper, and olive oil

Carbonara Alexandra – house-cured and smoked pancetta, coddled egg yolks, grana Padano cheese, and gremolata

Karah’s Diavolo – lemon, olive oil, rosemary, egg yolks, red chili, grana Padano chees

Garlic Bread – grilled ciabatta, poached garlic, and grana cheese

Patrizi’s House Salad – mixed greens with family recipe creamy Italian dressing, giardiniera, pickled onions, and grana Padano

Picture of an old time school bus
So let’s go.

Here’s a view of some pottery and a succulent display.

This table gives information and ocations of the Artist Studio tour.

A long view of some art.

The Activity Center has many things going on, including dance bands and concerts. Here is a display showing some of them.

Some interesting photos.

A nod to the Avant-Garde.

A portrait selection.

Impressionistic work.

Mostly pastels.

Photographic art.

A little of everything.

Farm scenes.

Pottery and stuff.

A revisit to the succulent table to check out the humorous labels.

Of course, there are food trucks to satisfy the need for a snack while browsing the art.

 

That’s it. I hope you have a great week. Relax, have some food and enjoy ZZ Top

Views of the Neighborhood – Shark Week Scavenger Hunt Part II

~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

Here we are getting ready for the Shark Week Scavenger Hunt part II. First of all, I want to apologize for the quality of the photos. The Producer’s images are sharp and clear; mine look like I developed them in a milk bath. Not sure what happened, but hope you can enjoy them anyway.

We are being catered by Anything’s Baked Potato of Austin, and our entertainment is Coldplay.

Main

So don’t miss the bus.

Velvet Belly Lantern shark. Wonder who pet the belly to determine it was velvet?

The Maco Shark loves swordfish and is found wherever swordfish are found. Unfortunately, they are endangered due to fishing.

Bull Shark. All you freshwater fans should know these guys travel the Mississippi River.

Great name Izu Catshark and, as can be guessed, live only around Japan.

A reader had hoped G would be a different name. But, nope, Great White it is. No known predators and found everywhere. Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water.

Whale Shark – Largest 41,000 pounds and 61 feet. Loves tropical waters and eats plankton and small fish.

Angel Shark – Endangered. It is now found in the shelf sediment habitats in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic.

Hammerhead Shark – Hammerheads are found worldwide in warmer waters along coastlines and continental shelves. They range in size from 3 feet to 19 feet and can weigh up to 1300 pounds.

Oceanic Whitetip Shark – The oceanic whitetip is found globally in deep, open oceans, with temperatures greater than 18 °C (64 °F). This shark is aggressive and threatened due to its fins and meat demand.

Port Jackson Shark – Lays eggs and does not need to swim to breathe. Found in the warm waters off the coast of Southern Australia.

So here is where we are on our scorecard and message key. I think by now, you noticed there is no 22. As hard as The Producer and I searched, we could not find it. But, we did figure out its letter. It is T.

Reminded me of the secret decoder ring on Christmas Story. Well, it is time to relax and eat and enjoy Coldplay live from Wembley Stadium on August 13th, 2022

 

Views of the Neighborhood – Shark Week Scavenger Hunt – Part I

~ John W. Howell ~ 94 Comments

This week we are going on a scavenger hunt sponsored by the Lakeway Parks and Recreation. Here is some information about the hunt.

26 shark pages are hidden along the walking trail at Lakeway City Park.  One for each letter of the alphabet! You will find them along the sidewalk from the upper level, through the butterfly garden, around the lower level, and across the lookout point. If you want to know more about each shark, just expand the photo.

Use the answer key to unlock a secret message! Simply write the GREEN letter next to the corresponding number on the answer key to begin.

Shark in the Park – Answer Key

Here is an example to follow.

Click HERE to download the answer key!

Send the decoded secret message to events@lakeway-tx.gov and claim your prize!!

We will be catered by Forthright Cafe, and our entertainment is The Kings of Leon.

The menu includes anything you want to drink.

Americana breakfast – two Vital Farms free-range eggs, sourdough toast with house-made seasonal jam, garlic butter herb roasted red bliss potatoes & your choice of bacon, pork sausage patty, chicken sausage patty, or avocado.

Chilaquiles Verde – fried corn tortillas tossed in roasted salsa Verde, cotija cheese, charred poblano peppers, hominy, black beans, pickled red onions & two Vital Farms free-range eggs made sunny-side up.

Hash al pastor – smashed & fried red bliss potatoes, chipotle salsa, al pastor pork, onions, corn, black beans, poblano,  blistered tomatoes & two sunny eggs.

Oyster mushroom hash – (v) roasted blue oyster mushrooms, fried red bliss potatoes, onions, corn, avocado, black beans, cherry tomatoes, tossed with chipotle salsa, served with vegan eggs.

JNL benny – smoked pastrami made in collaboration with Ben Lambert of JNL barbecue, two poached free-range eggs,& hollandaise on a toasted English muffin

Biscuits & gravy – fluffy house-made buttermilk biscuits with pork sausage gravy

Chicken & waffles – two boneless fried chicken thighs, honey butter, pecans, maple syrup, powdered sugar

Brunch burger  – smash burger on a brioche bun with bacon bourbon jam, American cheese, avocado mash, and fried egg served with french fries.

Breakfast melt – two scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and chipotle mayo on a brioche texas toast served with red bliss potatoes and with your choice of protein; bacon, pork sausage, fried chicken, ham, or avocado.

Picture of an old time school bus

So jump on the bus.

Here we are with our first. An Epaulette Shark

Unknown species (Now that was sneaky)

Small-Spotted catshark

From the teaser A Nurse Shark

Also from the teaser, a Dogfish Shark

Lemon Shark

Frilled Shark

Yellow-spotted Catshark

Ragged Tooth Shark

Kitefin Shark.

Xenacanthus

Japanese sawshark

Quagga Catshark

So now our Answer Key looks like this.

Come back next week to finish the hunt or you could take a crack at the secret message.

Sit back and enjoy the food and entertainment. You have worked hard. I hope you have a good week.

Views of the Neighborhood – Drought and Preview

~ John W. Howell ~ 123 Comments

Today, we will visit Lake Travis in Lakeway to assess the effects of the drought and the 22 days straight of above 100-degree F (37.7 C) temperatures. Also, there will be a new scavenger hunt next week, but I think previewing it while we are at the lake would be fun. We are being catered by 5000 Burnet, a food truck. Our entertainment is Train.

Menu for 5000 Burnet

Appetizers

Four Egg Roll – Fried veggie egg rolls served with sweet and sour sauce.

Four Shrimp Roll – Fried shrimp rolls served with sweet and sour sauce.

Soups – Choose a spice level: Mild, Medium, Spicy, Very Spicy. Choose a protein: Chicken, Tofu.

Tom Kha – Creamy coconut milk soup with chicken or tofu, mushrooms, lemongrass, kaffir leaves, and golangal. Spiced in lime juice

Tom Yum Soup – Spicy lemongrass soup with chicken or tofu, green onion, white onion, tomatoes, mushroom, and cilantro. Spiced with Thai chili, kaffir leaves, and lime juice.

Curry – Choose your protein. Choose a spice level: Mild, Medium, Spicy, Very Spicy.

Ellow Curry – Yellow curry with coconut milk, carrot, white onion, and potatoes.

Panang Curry – Red ponong curry with coconut milk, bell pepper, and green bean.

Noodles – Choose your protein. Choose a noodle: Rice Noodle, Clear Noodle.

Pad Thai – Stir fried thin rice noodle or clear noodle with egg, bean sprouts, green onion, lime, and crushed peanuts on the side.

Pad See Ew – Stir-fried flat rice noodle with egg, Chinese broccoli, and carrot in special brown sauce.

Anything you wish to drink

Picture of an old time school busLet’s go

Our first stop is to take a general look at the lake level. Where you see green is where the level is at regular times. That dock lying on the ground is usually floating.

Here is a closer look at the green. You can also see a ramp to the right that used to be a way to the water. Now it is a way to the green.

A close-up of what used to be waterfront property. The stairs led to the floating dock to the right. The dock to the left has been grounded with two kyacks.

Another view of floating docks that are high and dry. Notice the sailboat to the left.

Another shot of the sailboat but looking further toward the main lake.

In the distance are the few remaining boat slips still in the water.

This is a shot of the Kayak launch site. The water was about ten feet from here. It is now 100 feet from here.

The following photos are four of the 26 stops for the Shark Scavenger Hunt that we will start next week. Each stop has a shark whose name begins with a letter of the alphabet.  I’m not sure what the numbers mean, but I think it is a way to register finds for the hunt.

Here we have a D and dogfish shark.

S for small-spotted catshark

N for nurse shark.

And finally Z for zebra shark. So next week, we will hunt these down. But, for now, enjoy the food and the music.

Views of the Neighborhood – Dog Days of Summer.

~ John W. Howell ~ 99 Comments

The Producer and I had a great idea to depict the dog days of summer with mailbox toppers. Well, guess what? In all of Lakeway, there are only a few.  We did soldier on and found those available. Today on our outing we are going to be catered by Via 313 of Austin Inside Out. Our entertainment is The Band Perry.

Menu Detroit-style pizza

The Original Pepperoni – Smoked Pepperoni under the cheese

The Detroiter – Smoked Pepperoni under the cheese, Natural Casing Pepperoni on top

The Omnivore – Mushroom, Onion, Green Pepper, Pepperoni, Sausage

The Bobo Brazil – Hot Calabrese, Sausage, Red Pepper Flakes, finished w/ Mike’s Hot Honey

The Four Cheese (v) – Our special four-cheese blend

 The Carnivore  – Our special four-cheese blend – Smoked Pepperoni, Natural Casing Pepperoni, Ham, Sausage, Bacon

The Herbivore (v) – Mushroom, Onion, Green Pepper, Black Olives

The Rocket – Calabrese, Arugula, Shaved Parmesan

The Hawaiian – Ham, Bacon, Pineapple Rings

The Cadillac (Inspired by Tony Gemignani) – Gorgonzola, Fig Preserves, Prosciutto, Parmesan, Balsamic Glaze

The Marinara (v) + vegan – No Cheese, Red Sauce, Garlic, Oregano

The 500 -Natural Casing Pepperoni, Jalapeño, Pineapple Rings

The Ambassador Bridge (Inspired by Jeff Smokevitch) – Sausage, Natural Casing Pepperoni, Fresh Garlic, Italian Oregano, House-Made Ricotta. Sub Plant-Based Pepperoni to make it veggie

A special drink courtesy of Dan Conti – Mezcal Sour Cherry Margarita served in smoked salt-rimmed glass. Also, anything else you wish to drink

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s go

Our first is made out of metal.

Cute little dachshund with a University of Texas bandana

Pug anyone?

Happy dog

Another pug

A bulldog from Craig Boyack’s ( Author of the Hat series.) house.

A Shar Pei

Couldn’t help but taking a shot of the hippo and bird since we ran out of dogs.

Cute hedgehog.

And last a baby deer.

So have some pizza and enjoy The Band Perry.