Posted by Sara on Mar 30, 2010 in
Texas,
Travel I love farmers markets.
You might think I’m just another girl following the crowd. After all, organic eats are all the rage and passionate people everywhere demand support of local farmers.
But no, I have no consistent lofty conviction regarding that kind of green eating.
Rather I seek a simpler sort of green.
Truth be told, I like fried green tomatoes.
Since I’m handier with a frypan than I am with a garden, come summertime, farmers markets are a reliable source for the otherwise elusive green tomatoes.
With visions of tasty summery goodness, I was beyond thrilled to learn a new farmer’s market was opening practically in my own backyard.
Read more…
Tags: Cedar Park Farmers Market
Posted by Sara on Mar 23, 2010 in
Cajun Cuisine,
Cooking 
And today’s post is brought to you by August 2009. Shall we travel in time to the inferno that was last summer in Austin, Texas?
I am kicking myself that I did not post this sooner. Why? Because some of the details have since slipped my mind, and I didn’t have the good sense to write it all down.
Last year I walked in to my local H-E-B market to see a large tank full of creepy crawly crawfish, alive and well. Not sure what on earth about those beady-eyed buggers said “dinner” to me, but for some reason it birthed in me this insatiable desire to try a crawfish boil.
Well, that is one dinner with an expiration date. We waited too long and discovered crawfish in Austin have only a seasonal performance. If you miss the show, you’re out of luck.
So we opted for the next best thing – a Cajun shrimp boil.
Read more…
Tags: Cajun Shrimp Boil
Posted by Sara on Mar 20, 2010 in
Southern Life Each year in Austin, Texas for a few blissful days, the remaining cool breezes that were winter embrace the warm sun of the coming summer. All is right in the world.
Bluebonnets bud. Birds sing. Wise parents accompany their children outdoors for long hours of unrestricted play.
With no more than a quick “see you later” to the house, we make hasty calls to friends with the pressing questions: “What are you doing right now? Meet me at the park?” We’re eager to revel in every moment of unfettered freedom outside.
For we all know the truth – as quickly as spring arrives in Austin, the planet tilts and turns, tipping the sands of time in favor of the searing heat that is the Texas summer.
Happy First Day of Spring to you all!
Tags: First Day of Spring, Vernal Equinox
Posted by Sara on Mar 16, 2010 in
Texas,
Travel This post is first in my new ongoing series about the parks along the Brushy Creek Regional Trail system in North Austin.
This weekend, eager to enjoy the Spring sun and gentle breezes, we took Titus to Champion Park in Cedar Park, Texas. Though somewhat small, this park offers unique discoveries particularly targeting the preschool crowd I’d say.
Read more…
Tags: Cedar Park Texas, Champion Park
Posted by Sara on Mar 15, 2010 in
Texas,
Travel Though the north side of Austin tends towards a culture of big-box stores, chain restaurants and suburbia, it does have one lovely natural feature – the Brushy Creek Regional Trail. Brushy Creek is a pretty little creek system, with a nice small lake for fishing and elbow-grease-only boating.
Williamson County put county dollars to great use by creating a nearly seven-mile trail system along the creek complete with six parks:
I thought it might be a fun little series for my family to visit these six parks and tell you all about them. As we’ve only been to one with our camera so far, this will be a bit of work-in-progress.
Enjoy!
Tags: Brushy Creek Lake Park, Brushy Creek Regional Trail, Brushy Creek Sports Park, Champion Park, Creekside Park, Olsen Meadows Park, Twin Lakes Park
Posted by Sara on Mar 12, 2010 in
Texas,
Travel I was thrilled to find this website today – www.austinboredkids.com
For all you local moms planning a staycation this Spring Break, I hope you’ll find it to be an inspiring and useful resource.
Happy Spring Break!
Tags: Austin Bored Kids, Children's Activities Austin
Posted by Sara on Mar 9, 2010 in
Restaurant Reviews,
Texas 
We recently celebrated the annual anniversary of Kenny’s 29th birthday. Few things say “man-grub” like hot dogs, so I thought lunch at Frank Hot Dogs and Cold Beer in downtown Austin might be a fun excursion.
Well, the food was an adventure…
After all, in what alternate universe would you expect Hill Country gourmet to shack up with Windy City street fare on a single menu? However, Frank makes it work.
Snooty artisan sausages made in-house and 100% Vienna beef hot dogs shipped in from Chicago are paired with creative and traditional toppings to deliver big tastes.
A nice selection of Texas grown-up brews, and my personal favorite – the sweet sudsy local Maine Root Beer- are all on draft to wash down every bite.
And I’m not even gonna talk about the whoopie pie…
Who am I kidding? Of course I’m going to mention the whoopie pie – rounds of chocolate cake sandwiching the richest cream in the world – whoooooopie!
If the food warmed my stomach at Frank Hot Dogs and Cold Beer, the people won my heart.
The owner made time stand still during the busy lunch rush. It’s as though he blacked out the rest of the room and shone the spotlight of his attention on Kenny and me. He easily chatted with us while we waited for a table.
Why? Because he heard we were first-time guests.
A few weeks later we planned to introduce our friends to Frank.
“It’s closed for Sunday dinner!” we realized as we stood disappointed at the door peering in to the dark restaurant. The two remaining employees saw us, opened the door and invited us in.
“Cathy! Look at all this gorgeous salvaged wood!” Our friend Bill, a fine craftsman, exclaimed about the interior of Frank.
And that was just enough to get the employees talking. They poured a round of Maine Root Beer on the house, hung out with us for about 25 minutes and showed us all the behind-the-scenes care that went into Frank’s interior design and menu. Then they sent us off with a list of their other favorite restaurants in town to try instead.
Wow! We came hungry and left as friends.
So while the humble hot dog may be out-of-this-world at Frank Hot Dogs and Cold Beer, the people are sure to make you feel right at home.
Important Info:
Location: Corner of 4th and Colorado, Austin, TX
Website: http://www.hotdogscoldbeer.com/ The photo above is just a teaser of the many enticing pics on the Frank Hot Dogs and Cold Beer website.
Note: Closed for Sunday dinner. Vegetarian options available.
Tags: Austin, Frank Hot Dogs & Cold Beer, Maine Root Beer, Texas
Posted by Sara on Mar 8, 2010 in
Southern Life Well, this neglected blog took cues from Sleeping Beauty and dozed off for over a year. (As if I could just so easily blame the inanimate website…)
Actually I think the blogger of this blog, yours truly, lost all heart for blogging for a while.
Maybe it was the economic downturn or the winter blues that kicked it off.
But a sad personal loss followed.
Then a piping hot summer.
Autumn found me starting a small home piano lesson studio.
And then this blog’s biggest fan (just look through a few old posts for comments from Nene and you’ll see what I mean) lost her short battle to cancer.
Frankly 2009 shall be known as the year I was at a loss for words.
Recently I realized, although I didn’t tell you about my adventures in 2009, I never stopped having them. Kenny and I hit 3 out of 5 of Texas’ top BBQ spots. My sisters and I celebrated our big birthdays in San Antonio. I downed the finest example of onion rings EVER at the Varsity in Atlanta. We beat the summer heat at some of Texas’ coolest springfed pools. And snow and lightning robbed me of my summit of Pike’s Peak in Colorado Springs.
Though I look the web over, I don’t find many bloggers telling you these important details about the great sights here, there and everywhere. So I’m dusting off the old keyboard and warming up my typing fingers.
Get ready. Dixie Gypsy is waking up.
