Austin Eats

The Roaring Fork in downtown Austin, Texas, is a creative outpost for foodies. Where else have you seen fried guacamole? Well, maybe you don't want to, but I know you would love the Mexican Street Corn and the Blackened Redfish  atop quinoa and lentils. And a reasonable price on food and beverages never hurts. 

Reservations should be made months in advance. Such is their popularity. 

Keep Austin Weird

Limbo Jewelry Designs sells the following pillows, candles, nameplates, and other cool humorous creations. 

Patrick Swayze, a Texas "hero", Nick Cage, etc. 

Observe the prayer candles for Trump, David Bowie, Matthew McConnaughey, et al. 

Crazy Cat Lady candle really does smell like cat litter! Used. 

A better choice is Baked Bread. 

A common refrain around here, Keeping Austin Weird, could be rephrased as Keep Austin Hip. 

SoCo, a very popular neighborhood, is a short walk from Ann Richards Bridge, where the Congress Street bats hang out March to September eating mosquitoes and scaring the tourists. 

Shops selling cowboy hats, cowboy boots, etc., are not hip, but Tesoros and Yard Dog Art Gallery have the quirk factor that hipsters relish. 

Mexican Wrestling masks for Lucha at Tesoro

More oddities at Tesoro

Love these office "nameplates" at LimboJewelry  Designs

Rather than eating at the popular but mediocre Guerros, try Max's Wine Dive, a mile or so north. Yummy and hipster gourmet. 

Austin is a great winter time escape. 

The Art League's Patrons Show

If you are interested in art, and /or the deal of the century, please trundle on down to the Art League in Alexandria, Virginia tout suite!

There are roughly 6 tickets left at $200 each. (Over 600 tickets were sold in the last week. )

This is a great evening and occurs this year on February 14, 2016, Sunday night. 

If you hate the idea of getting expensive art for only $200, well then, this is not for you!

Hurry! Tickets won't last. For details, please consult theartleague.org.

Amaryllis, c. By Patricia Uchello, donated to the Patrons Show, 2016

Can You Taste It?

It is the flavor of New Orleans, and it is delicious! The tastes, the sights...fresh shrimp abound in the land of the Big Easy. 

We chanced upon the filming of the television show NCIS: New Orleans. See the coroner's car above?

Shrimp Remoulade and Shrimp Creole at Galatoire's today

Live oak in City Park

Salamander Spa and Resort

Expensive but lovely!

Sonoma Cellars

The cheese plate, delicious rosemary accented focaccia, and a two ounce wine taste. 

Sonoma Cellars is an exciting new restaurant in Alexandria, VA, on Old Town's King Street. Serving California cuisine, the small, homey restaurant serves small plates and large plates, and specializes in wine pairings of different sizes: both 2 and 6 ounce portions, as well as full bottles. 

Sonoma Cellars offers more vegetarian options than the typical restaurant. My husband and I sampled yummy lentil soup, which was very well-seasoned as well as an outstanding rich beef estouffade (beef stew) with strong flavors of red wine. The unusual touch is the addition of black olives and pappardelle noodles. 

The restaurant was packed despite the hard-to-find sign out front and near black-out of publicity. 

Check it out for healthy options!

Your foodie,

Patsie

Blow up House 2016

Dear Imaginary Friends,

Here is every child's Christmas dream: every square foot is covered with blow up cartoon characters celebrating Christmas.