At Home Around Austin

Austin Backstage Live

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:29:34 +0000

Austin Backstage Live is the vision of developer, Mitchell Kalogridis, for a 250 acre tract of land he owns in Southeast Austin. An area located between Wm. Cannon and Slaughter Lane (north and south) and I-35 and Bluff Springs Rd. (east and west) sitting high on a bluff, covered in trees with a small creek running through. The vision is to be a premier destination park with various venues and activities throughout. After meeting with and talking to Mitchell Kalogridis, the man behind this project, I came away with answers and a better idea of what his plans and expectations are for Austin Backstage Live. First and foremost, I noticed a dedication and determination to see that the project is developed according to what he envisions it to be. He sees a premier family destination, where a day trip or family vacation can be fun and exciting for adults and children of all ages. Where the venues will be varied and visitors will want to return time after time. The anchor and main feature will be an amphitheater that will have at least a 7500 seat capacity with a state of the art sound system, where top entertainers and artist will want to perform. Other features include a luxury hotel, an indoor-outdoor water park, a drive-in theater with vintage style cars for seating, an international style farmers market, specialized shopping and restaurants, modern and up-to-date studios for both movies and music production, and much more. All encompassed by approximately 135 acres of tree covered hillsides with hike and bike trails and picnic areas winding along throughout the park. The list goes on. He sees a destination that embodies what Austin is famous for, good music, good food and the love of the outdoors. An Austin destination where not only families can come enjoy all that the park has to offer but also a place where artist in all facets of the entertainment industry can come to work or play. An environment that will anticipate what you want, before you know you want it and be delighted you have it.

To All The Blood Donors, THANK YOU!

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:13:09 +0000

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! As usual Austinites stepped up. We can’t say it enough to all the family and friends who came to Sky Realty’s 1^st (annual?) blood drive on Saturday May 29th. Also to all of the vendors who have donated the time, money and prizes that helped make this event the success that it was. We had a huge success as far as participation in the event but we are waiting for an exact count of how many participants and how many actual pints of blood were taken. There were quite a few donors who couldn’t make it to the event so gave beforehand at other donation centers. Many, many people stopped on their way to another event, it was Memorial Day Week-end after all, and many staff and volunteers were there all day. There was plenty of food, drinks, balloons and lots and lots of laughter. The atmosphere was fun and friendly and the weather was great.

Donors came all day long, starting at 9:00am and the last to leave was after 4:00pm. I was surprised at how many people were donating for the 1^st time. They overcame their fear for a few minutes and donated their time and their blood to help save someone else. It is was selfless and caring action. It was great to see family and friends but also to meet new people. It was a special pleasure to know they came because you asked.

I have a feeling that this will be an annual event for Sky Realty and I also believe it will continue to grow each time. So look forward to emails, notices in the mail and phone calls for the next event. Next time should be bigger and better, especially if all of you come back next time. Oh, and bring a friend!

Del Valle Community Coalition Fundraiser Was A Success

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:12:35 +0000

If you didn’t make it to the Del Valle Community Coalition Fundraiser on Saturday, May 22, at the park in Berdoll Farms, you missed out on some great fun and entertainment. Music was provided by My Party Productions, which included karaoke. There were quite a few brave people who sang their favorite songs to an appreciative crowd. There was a large bouncy thing (we called them moonwalks) which kept the kids entertained all afternoon. Food and drinks were for sale and plenty of information about this up and coming coalition of people who want to see good changes come to the Del Valle area and want a voice in what the changes are. Curious neighbors came by and supported the fundraiser. A representative from the office of (District 51) Rep. Eddie Rodriguez and Ms. Marilyn Jackson, his opponent in the next election, were on hand to answer questions. And there were many. After years of living in the Del Valle area is was great to finally see someone pay attention. The Del Valle Community Coalition seems to be on the right track. This is not just a neighborhood group or an HOA, this is a group that wants to include ALL residents in the Del Valle area. Residents from all over the 78617 area are encouraged to call or email the DVCC, or contact me and I will point you in their direction. I plan to support this group and invite everyone in the area to do the same.

A Del Valle Community Coalition Fundraising Event

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 04:44:16 +0000

Hi Everyone. I know some of us are just hearing about the Del Valle Community Coalition but they are off and running. But it takes money and plenty of volunteers to keep running. So DVCC is having a fundraiser at the Berdoll Farms Neighborhood Park. The park is located on Lipton Loop and Alomar. The EVENT will be held on Saturday, May 22nd 2010, between 4pm and 8pm. There will be food, music, games and plenty of fun. Most of all they hope to see a lot of Del Valle area residents come out to meet others in the community and support this group and the newsletter. So if you want to be a part of the community and participate in its growth come to the fundraiser. Listen to music, have a little food and a GREAT time. The weather looks like it will be beautiful. Sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Del Valle Community Coalition

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 04:09:12 +0000

I had a visitor to my office yesterday and she brought me something I had been hoping to see for a long time. It was a Del Valle community based newsletter put together by an organization called the Del Valle Community Coalition and they are writing a monthly newsletter. It is a fairly new organization that is trying to get the vast rural and diverse areas of Del Valle (mainly the 787617 zip code) together to make a difference in our great community. There are many new home neighborhoods that have been built in the last few years which have increased the population dramatically. And there are still many farms and ranches scattered around, with residents ranging as far as the Hornsby Bend and Webberville areas all the way to Mustang Ridge and Creedmoor and so many more in between, our voices are scattered about. This simple newsletter is a great way for everyone to learn about the various businesses in our community but to also stay informed and up to date about all the wonderful things that are going on in and around our homes, schools and neighborhoods. It can also help us stay up to date about the not so great things that are sent our way. And YES, what happens in Austin’s Colony affects all residents in the Del Valle district. Just like what takes place in Creedmoor or Elroy can have an effect on residents of Los Cielos or Berdoll Farms. It can affect your taxes, your home values, traffic, schools and most importantly you and your families quality of life in general. Del Valle is not just a community where the airport or the jail is located. We are a vibrant and growing community with a progressive school system and a diverse group of residents who have chosen to make Del Valle our home. I hope this newsletter can help to bring the residents together so we can choose the direction of progress for our community and not have it chosen for us. I hope in my excitement I am not placing too great a burden on this great group of volunteers. But be assured I will help in any way I can and there are many more Del Valle residents willing to do the same. For more information about how to help or volunteer visit citicite.com and join up.

Mail boxes, shoes and mummies? in Austin, TX.

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:01:16 +0000

Volunteers and bluebonnets

What do mail boxes, shoes and a mummy head have in common? Those are just a few of the strange things we picked up out of the creek bed of Onion Creek located in McKinney Falls State Park. My family and I were volunteers in the KAB program this last Saturday at McKinney Falls. KAB (Keep Austin Beautiful) organizes volunteers to help clean Austin area parks. We cleaned along the creek at the lower falls at McKinney Falls State Park. McKinney Falls is located off of HWY 183 and McKinney Falls Pkwy in Southeast Austin. These previously mentioned items were only some the strange and not so strange things you will see along creeks. Especially after a heavy rainy season there is plenty of trash that gets caught up in the brush and on the banks. Tires, plastic bottles, cans, cigarette lighters, phone cable and any other household item you can possibly think of were picked up. And Styrofoam. Lots and lots of Styrofoam. In a hundred little pieces. We met with the group at 9:00 and worked along the creek until 11:00. The day was beautiful, there were bluebonnets blooming in the creek bed and we found a couple of mice while picking up some debris. Then we were off to the festivities for the volunteers at Waterloo Park, where more volunteers had worked so diligently to put this all together. And a great job they did. There was food, drinks, snacks, live music, educational activities, and plenty of environmental information. And my grandsons favorite, the rock climbing wall.

Mummy head found in creek bed during KAB Cleanup

There had been a contest for the strangest item found during clean-up. We thought we should have won with the mummy head, but the sign from Aunt Tilly’s was the winner. (The sign had been washed away in a flood in 2007, and found today in Walnut Creek) It was a great day altogether. Great weather, great company and great food. This is what Austin is all about.

Great music for the afternoon

Oil Found in Central Texas?

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 03:46:05 +0000

I just wanted to tell you about my trip to Italy Sunday. Or was it Spain? No, it was Greece! Okay, it was none of them. I took a trip to a beautiful family farm that grows olive trees. Yes, olive trees, in Central Texas. Who would have thought? This ranch, called Bella Vista, is located just outside of Wimberley, and is a working family ranch. Not only do they grow olive trees and process them for olive oil but they also produce wine, various jams and sauces and olive oil soaps. The tour was fascinating. It seems olive trees just love rocky soil, hot, dry weather and don’t need a lot of water. Sounds like a perfect fit for the hill country. For the most part the weather is just fine for the groves, but olive trees don’t like extremely cold temperatures for very long, so a sudden blue norther can and has wrecked havoc on an orchard. The owners have had to replant as many as 800 trees. They now have a beautiful stand of olive trees. There is a beautiful olive grove and it is producing olive oil. I am by no means a good judge of different types of olive oils but I can tell you that the difference between the fresh olive oil and one that I buy in the store are worlds apart. You could smell the earthy, fresh cut wood fragrance of the oil and the taste was smooth on the front of the tongue with just a little heat in the back of the throat. Apparently this was a sign of quality in the oil. Olive trees are kin to the lilac family and the leaves are a dusty, silvery greenish gray. They shimmer in the sunlight and light breeze. What a picturesque sight. Not what you expect in the hill country.When most people think of the hill country in Central Texas, lakes and sunsets are what come to mind. Not Italy, Spain, vineyards or olive groves. Wimberley, Driftwood and Dripping Springs are wonderful communities in Central Texas. There is no telling what you will come across. It seems that heat, dry weather and rocky soil can actually produce more than cactus and rattlesnakes. It is producing a thick, golden toned liquid called olive oil.

Southside Sub Shop

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:28:11 +0000

If you live or work in South Austin around the Wm. Cannon and I-35 area and you are looking for a place to grab a meal without fighting the crowds, look no further than Tucci’s South Side Subs. Tucci’s Southside Subs is located in the strip center on the corner of I-35 and Wm. Cannon, between the dentist and the pizza place. It can be hard to see and notice but it was worth finding. They have a great variety of meats, cheeses, toppings and dressings, with names like Gramma Max’s Hot Ham and Swiss or Grilled Eggplant or Portabella Mushroom. They offer both, a cold sub or toasted sandwich. I can’t remember the name of what I ordered but it was delicious. There was chicken, turkey, at least two types of cheese, some wonderful banana peppers and just a touch of hot, sweet cherry peppers. It was all toasted together on a Kaiser roll. Yummm. Their prices are reasonable and the service was good. They are a local and independent business with two locations, this one on I-35 and another in Oak Hill at Hwy. 71 and 290. They also have a catering service offering sack lunches and sub trays. South Side Subs is great little sandwich shop offers a tasty meal without all of the hustle and bustle of busier areas of South Austin. South Austin has quite a few fun and eclectic restaurants and other eateries, South Side Subs is a great addition.

Armadillo Park-South Austin

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:43:32 +0000

Clearing brush at Armadillo Park

If you live in the Austin area, you will find that there is no shortage of parks. Even if it is just a little strip of land in between apartments complexes you will always find green space that is available for public use. There are popular areas like Zilker Park, Pease Park and City Park and then there are the little neighborhood parks that sometimes get forgotten and overgrown. Armadillo Park located in South Austin, off Cooper and Wm. Cannon has been just such a park, until now. Thanks to the neighbors it seems area residents have gotten together with the city to review what needs to be done to make this stretch of property a scenic and inviting park for everyone to use. There are plans for a trail, benches and other site furnishings for neighbors to enjoy. The city is having non-native plants, dead trees and bushes removed to encourage the growth of indigenous plants and trees in the park area. There are concerns about a road closure, sidewalks and lighting but the city staff has plans to meet with citizens after a review of the park. There will be a notice sent out with the date and time for anyone who would like to hear about the Armadillo Park Project in person. South Austin has many great neighborhoods, where residents know each other and work together to maintain their quality of life and improve their communities.

Casa Morenos

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:46:18 +0000

Casa Morenos has to be one of my favorite places in Southeast Austin to get a breakfast taco that is worth the $2-3 dollars you pay for it. These are not your typical pre-made tortillas with a little bit of egg and a bit of meat that you will get from many places. I ordered 2 bacon, egg, potato and cheese and they were delicious. I think they use 1/2 a potato, a whole slice of bacon in each one and wrap it in a fresh made tortilla. I ate 3/4 of the 1st one and had to stop because I was full, this is rare, I gave the second one to a coworker who also had trouble finishing it. Casa Morenos also offers a lunch buffet that includes enchiladas and tacos or you can order off of their menu. The pricing and portion sizes are good for lunchtime and the food is prepared pretty quick as well. Look for Casa Morenos on Burleson Road close to the post office.