Now here’s some Holiday ideas a Real Man can use! CNN’s Eatocracy recently posted a note about new gift guide. Kevin Diedrich is the bar manager at Jasper’s Corner Tap & Kitchen in San Francisco. He offers five good options in the list:

Give the gift that gives all year: Sign them up for a [...]

1. Follies Extra: A Multitude of Uses for Beer (Besides Drinking) This entry is part of a series, Follies 2011» While...

It’s not every day that your mom celebrates 80 years. So we all got together & chipped in, cash and effort, to hold a reception for mom’s celebration. Oh, nothing too elaborate; she’s not that kind. A reception at a hall in the village, a few hours of chatting, sharing and eating. (Lots of [...]

1. Dinner Party Crepes, Brazilian Style (With Extras) Some weeks ago we received a kind invitation from...

The gypsy songstress with Wine and Alchemy.

A real hurdy-gurdy!

Jenny sawing off another tune.

Working hard at having fun.

Enjoy the (Costumed Pageantry) Heat!

[...]

1. Texas RenFest 2011: Yes, They Had No Wildfires; Go! It’s Great… We didn’t make opening weekend of the Texas Renaissance...
2. It’s That Time of Year Again: Texas RenFest Date Set… After mind-altering, tough negotiations that lasted less than 30...

We didn’t make opening weekend of the Texas Renaissance Festival this year, but we got there as quick as we could. Only to run into a big ol’ batch of pirates. It was Pirate Adventure Weekend! The opening show was stuffed with silliness, and the only thing missing was a crowd. Attendance was down, [...]

1. It’s That Time of Year Again: Texas RenFest Date Set… After mind-altering, tough negotiations that lasted less than 30...
2. Burger Follies: A Fight Over Killer Burgers, In-N-Out in Texas, and Burger America Goes Second Edition This entry is part of a series, Follies 2011» Extreme-sized...

Sometimes you come across a novel place way out in the country. (Or maybe, if you’re lucky, your friends find the place for you.) We’re not talking about fancy places in this category. But maybe the kind of food you grew up on. Comforting stuff, like chicken-fried steak, or frog legs; you know what [...]

1. A Little Bit of the French Quarter, Here in Central Texas This entry is part of a series, Austin Scene» Paula...
2. Florida, Day 4 (Redux): An Evening In the Park and Dinner at Mythos Tuesday afternoon was quite cloudy, and by the time...
3. Dinner for One: Sometimes the Good Stuff is Right Under Your Nose This entry is part of a series, Austin Scene» The...

Continuing our roundup of regional farmers’ markets in central Texas (lovingly known as TGSMVH, or The Great Saturday Morning Vegable Hunt; and yes, it’s vegable, from when my baby brother was two), we visited the Barton Creek area of town on Saturday to peruse the [...]

As Seen in Beertown Austin

Nolan Ryan was one of the all-time great pitchers, and he’s become a “hometown boy” in practically every city and town in Texas. In central Texas, he’s still involved with baseball, through (part-) ownership of the Round Rock Express. People [...]

Last evening we went to a special event. The Catholic high school in Seguin has a tradition of delivering great one-act plays; they’ve been to State competition several times, and this year will make three trips in a row. Maybe they have an unfair advantage or two. Like truly engaged teaching and coaching. Parents [...]

My spouse took a friend of hers on a road trip this past weekend. They headed over to my mom’s place so they could all play together with a massive pile of fabric. (At least that was their excuse.) I stayed home to babysit an ailing pup, and to generally goof off, drink beer [...]

Freshly back in town from the grueling convention and Symposium tour, I wanted a meal with my favorite wifeyperson. Lunch seemed like a natural, so I shot her a note by Google Talk and asked if she would be free about then. She said sure, [...]