Spring Break!

Mid-terms strike again. My Finance Law mid-term kept me out of the state history museum for the second day in a row. But test week is over and it is time for Spring Break! I'll be in Miami, Atlanta, and New Orleans the next couple of weeks so I will be sure to keep you updated. And for all of those waiting for the scoop on the Bob Bullock State History Museum, it is at the top of my to-do list when I get home. So for now, I'll leave you with one of my favorite country music videos to help set the mood for the next couple of weeks.

Have a great Spring Break!

Remember the Alamo!

Today marks the 175th birthday of the great state of Texas. What a glorious day for all the lucky few who are blessed to call Texas home. I had originally planned on spending my afternoon at the Texas State History Museum, but one of my teachers decided to give an exam on this sacred day. What a jerk. Anyways, I'll be headed that way tomorrow and will be back with a full report. But I needed to make a post on this tremendous occasion. So I figured what better way to commemorate Texas' 175th birthday by honoring all of the great heros of this land.

First and foremost, the father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin. Yes, the same Austin my hometown is named after. Arriving in Texas on August 12, 1821, he quickly became a leader in what was then known as "Tejas". It is he who is responsible for the settlement of Texas by promoting the land to other settlers. He also served as somewhat of a diplomat between Texas and Mexico before, during, and after the Texas Revolution.

Secondly, our first and third president, Sam Houston. In addition to his presidency, he served as the Major General of the Texas army in their fight for freedom. It was under his fine leadership that the Texans won the decisive battle at San Jacinto in under 18 minutes, capturing General Santa Ana and forcing him to sign the Treaty of Velasco, granting Texas their independence. His name will live on forever, with the great city of Houston bearing his name.

And last, but certainly not least, I would like to honor Colonel William B. Travis, Davy Crockett, James Bowie, and the 179 other men who selflessly gave their lives in the Battle of the Alamo. It was their heroics that gave General Houston the time he need to assemble an army and ultimately claim freedom from Mexico.

God Bless Texas!

One Month of the Good Life in Austin, TX

Wow. One month. Who would have though? Certainly not me. Even as I write this post, I second guess why I'm doing this. But there is something strangely attractive about putting my thoughts and opinions out there for the whole world to see. Not only has this whole experience been extremely therapeutic, but it has also pushed me to go out and try new and exciting things in my hometown. While I'm not quite ready to say blogging has turned my life around, I will say that life on the inside of the blog-o-sphere IS a little bit sweeter.

So I believe there are a few people I need to thank for helping me and pushing me to become a blogger. First and foremost, thanks to my good friend Caroline Engeman who pushed me to actually take that leap of faith in the wild world of blogging. Secondly, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read at least one of my posts. It really is a cool feeling every time I check back in and see that little counter at the bottom of the page climbing! And finally, I need to thank my favorite radio station, 98.1 KVET, for the inspiration behind this blog. I can't even begin to count the times I have been driving around town and hear - "Ain't it a great day to be alive in Austin, Texas?". I used to think only a lucky few got to experience the truth behind this statement, but now I get a chance to share it with everyone across the globe!

So settle in and buckle up! This is only the beginning!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

For those of you who may not know me, I consider baseball's opening day one of the most depressing days of the year. It means I have to endure seven months of baseball highlights, fantasy baseball talks, and a constant reminder of how far away football season is. (Only 198 days, 3 hours, 56 minutes, and 11 seconds!)

But this years opening day at UFCU Disch-Falk Field was different. With Partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 70's, you would have to be un-American to enjoy the matchup between the Maryland Terrapins and the Texas Longhorns. And if you don't like America, you can just get out.

But a day at the ballpark to see the Horns play ball is unlike any other ballpark in America. It really is an experience unique to Austin. A lot of local restaurants such as Pok-E-Jo's and Amy's Ice Cream set up shop for all the fans to enjoy, the 7th inning stretch is the Cotton-Eyed Joe, and it always helps when the home town team wins as much as Texas does! It all comes together at the intersection MLK and I-35 for a baseball experience even I can't pass up!

Thats it for now! Check back tomorrow for a very special one month anniversary of "Where Else But Austin!" post!

Where Else But Charleston?

I'm back! And what a weekend getaway I had! For being on the top of my list of places to see in the United States, Charleston, SC did not disappoint! First of all, I need to give a shout out to Mary Catharine Doherty and Christa Tilley for being such great tour guides. Without them showing me all the great places and things to do in Charleston, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much.

For starters, a city with history like Charleston has a special allure that is hard to find anywhere else in this country. If you are a history buff like me, seeing all of the historic sites like Battery Park (a very significant location during the Civil War) was really cool. But it isn't just the historical sites that make it special. You get a feeling that each and every home has a special story of its own to tell. History just oozes out of every nook and cranny of this city. Very Cool.

I was also very impressed with the nightlife of Charleston. With the variety of bars, clubs, and lounges, it was easy to find something to fit my mood. But what really surprised me was the amount of live music. Being from the Live Music Capital of the World, I will be the first to admit that I am pretty spoiled and often find myself complaining if I don't get enough. With a population of only about 125,000 people, I was shocked at how many places could cater to my addiction to live music. One band in particular, American Aquarium, caught my attention. I highly recommend checking them out in Austin when they come visit for SXSW. This is a video of them performing at the Pour House in Charleston!

But what really got me about Charleston in the food. If you don't already know this about me - I love food. Especially good food. And Charleston has some really, really good food. A lot of what I ate was southern staples like fried green tomatoes and poached eggs, all of which was new to me.

But if home cooking doesn't really strike your fancy, they have about every other kind of restaurant you can imagine. One of my favorites was a steakhouse where I had one of the most unique cuts of meat I had ever seen - a bone-in filet mignon. And if you have ever had a bone-in ribeye and compared it to a regular ribeye, you know what kind of flavor leaving the bone in can add. Adding that flavor to my favorite cut of meat made it absolutely heavenly.

I'm sure I missed a few things about Charleston that really make it great - So I highly recommend checking it out for yourself and experiencing everything it has to offer!

That is all for this weekend. Check back soon!

Take Me Out To the Dance Hall (1)

Woke up this morning with Texas on my mind (2), and this blog post came upon me wave on wave (3). If you're looking for a place to strap on your boots, show off that shiny new belt buckle, and hear some of Texas' finest sing some songs about Texas (4), The Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall should be at the top of your list. This place will make you feel like way back Texas (5) from the moment you step through the door.

It feels just like it should (6) walking in and seeing hundreds of dancing couples ranging from ages 1-100. It's almost as if Coupland's has a threadbare gypsy soul (7) of its own, filled with all the great performers and dancers who have graced those old wooden floors. And when my favorite artist comes to town, it's a show even Jon Wayne and Jesus (8) wouldn't miss.

Incase you hadn't picked up on the 8 songs references throughout this post; last night's performer was the man, the legend, Mr. Pat Green. I don't think there is anything closer to being 100% Texan than experiencing a live Pat Green concert deep in the heart of my great state. Because there are no words to describe such an affair, I have added a small clip of one of his favorites (Thanks to Wade Swofford for the help on this one). However, the best part is left out because a video does not do it justice.



Well that will wrap up this weekend. Stay tuned for another post mid week and be sure to check back after next weekend for a special edition - "Where Else But Charleston?"!

POD - Blackberry

A Little Bit of Back Roads Driving

Incase you have been living under a rock for the past week; the great snow-mageddon of 2011 has hit Austin in full force. Yes, I know it hasn't been as bad as other places around the country. But hey - there is a reason I went to Miami for four years. I am a wimp when it comes to cold weather. And unfortunately, I'd rather be in bed watching movies and staying warm than... well... basically anything else when it is that cold outside. Ipso facto, I haven't had too much to blog about recently.

So after brainstorming some of the things in Austin I love no matter the weather outside, I came up with a great idea - Loop 360! If there was ever a road to bring back the age old tradition of a Sunday drive - This would be it. With breathtaking views of the Austin Skyline and the Texas Hill Country, Capital of Texas Highway is easily my favorite drive in the ENTIRE country. And the best part is I can stay in my warm car while I enjoy it!

If you want to see only best parts of the drive, I recommend skipping ahead to about 1:30-1:45 in and go until you see the Pennybacker Bridge (A post about this bridge to come later).

While I do love driving down 360, in the end it is still just a road and there isn't too much else to say about it. So that is going to do it for today's post. But check back tomorrow for a two-for-one post on one of my favorite musical acts of all time (Hint - see the title of this post) and a new live music venue in Austin!