Dog Places

They give all you dog owners out there a great list of resources.  From restaurants and places where we are invited too, to parks, daycares, grooming, and even TREATS, it's a great website.

Now go out and have fun with a four-legged friend!

The PeopleFund, according to their website, was started in 1995 with the mission to "promote lasting economic vitality for low-income people by implementing strategies that create jobs, provide safe and affordable homes, and promote good economic policy decisions for communities... They have made over 290 loans totaling over $17 million to small businesses, schools, healthcare providers, and to develop affordable homes."

The summit in East Austin will be a really interesting and exciting event and should be applauded for tackling such complex issues in order to make the whole community better. 

Go!

Auditorium Shores is where a lot of my friends like to hang out, and I like to stop by and exchange pleasantries.  One day there was even a remote control car that we all chased around and made all our humans laugh at us (they are so easy).  But I'm not in the greatest shape and sometimes playing a lot gets me tired, so I like to now take casual strolls across the street in Butler Park!

There is a nice pond over there and this really cool fountain that changes colors and you can run through it and splash around, oh oh and there's a doggy drinking fountain just for us, and the hill has such a nice view and people play funny human music there sometimes, and there is a big field to eat grass and lounge around, and you can hang out all day and just have the best time ever, I mean ever!  ~wheeze~ ok, got too worked up, gotta go take a nap.....maybe some food first......

LINK

My most recent chapter of this story is as I begin the expansion of my North Austin yoga studio, Yogagroove. Yogagroove has been a Bikram Yoga studio since 2001. I purchased it in 2005. Since then, the regular students have tripled and almost all of the class times are to capacity as we proceed through the week. I thought in college that I might someday continue in academia and use the adage “publish or perish” to grow my career. In the business world, it’s more along the lines of fighting entropy, growth or destruction. I’ve seen many companies destroyed from within for numerous reasons as I have been easily laid off at least 5 times, sometimes by the same company more than once and then rehired by a different division. The decisions made by management never made much sense at my participation level and I learned through time that freedom for me would be to be free of others making decisions for my livelihood. I went from employee to contractor to consultant with the same results. Now, I know that control is an illusion and that effort and really great timing makes a successful business and not entitlement or investment.

Last year, when I though it was time to expand, I researched opening a second studio in south Austin. I found what I thought was the perfect location in a new building in a populated area on William Cannon. It seemed like a great place but it just didn’t fit. My communications with the building owner were off and in the end I couldn’t possibly make the parking work to bring in 50+ students per class. During this process, though, I  learned about the banks and what they look for when giving a loan. They aren’t very friendly, and actually condescending, when they don’t understand what you do. I learned the basics of negotiating a lease and how important a lawyer is to make sure my interests are protected. A landlord will write all kinds of unbelievable things into a lease and although the owner’s agent says that he represents both parties, I learned quickly that this wasn’t true. It just didn’t work, so although I was disappointed, I waited.

On Thursday, May 22nd, I signed a 7 year lease to expand Yogagroove into the space next door. This will allow us to provide showers, 4 massage rooms, a second yoga room to allow overlapping classes and a full-scale clothing boutique and a juice bar to our students. I had an excellent commercial realtor who was my go-between with the owner’s agent, the same superb lawyer and I’m working with an architect (Anthony DiGrazia of noble Savage Design-Build {clicky}). The intended completion will be for The Austin Free Day of Yoga on September 1st. 

Thoughts???

Wine Guide (PDF)

Saturday, March 15

After a well-deserved slumber, we woke up and were treated to one of those March days in Austin that are there to just let you know that someone “up there” is smiling down on our fair city.  Everything was green, it was 70 degrees, and there was not a cloud in the sky…it was a perfect day to head out West into the Hill Country and catch a performance at THE BEST VENUE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, The Backyard.  And, on this particular day, the performer was none other than the man that put the Backyard on the map (Literally), Willie Nelson.  Now, I’m not here to discuss Mr. Nelson’s tendency to “forget” to pay his taxes, or even his choice of “recreational” activities, but if that man’s voice and guitar work doesn’t send a chill down your spine, then you need to do one of two things: 1) Stop reading this blog, or 2) Keep reading, and then GO SEE WILLIE NELSON AT THE BACKYARD.  Opened in 1993 (with a performance by none other than Willie), this 5000 person amphitheater nestled among an incredible stand of Live Oaks, is located in what was once the sleepy town of Bee Cave, a half-hour from Downtown Austin.  In the past 15 years, The Backyard has become one of the most widely talked about venues in the entire country, hosting everyone from Bob Dylan, Norah Jones, the Gipsy Kings, and, my personal favorite, Widespread Panic, who have played among the trees almost 20 times since 1995.  Unfortunately, in recent years, commercial and residential development has swallowed The Backyard, essentially making it a part of the “Any-Town USA” strip center that now surrounds it.  While the days of all-day tailgating and BBQ-ing (as well as the care-free attitudes that came with them) amongst the hills and groves of Live Oaks that originally surrounded the venue are long-gone, the ambiance and acoustics once inside the ‘Yard are UNMATCHED.  I could go on in this manner for DAYS, but you have to go see for yourself (And you better hurry: It was recently announced that this will be THE FINAL SEASON at this original location, although plans are in the works for a new Backyard to be built just down the road, adjacent to the new Bee Cave City Park.).  So, anyway, where was I??  Before we made our way out to my parents’ house, which they have lived in (And, in fact, have recently put on the market) since 1991 and which is also conveniently located on the top of a hill overlooking the Backyard, we had to stock up on BBQ supplies.  Luckily, I live right down the street from the Central Market on North Lamar, and, at the risk of making a GROCERY STORE sound too much cooler than it is, IT IS THE COOLEST GROCERY STORE I HAVE EVER SEEN.  I prepared Reid and Meredith for what was about to happen and told them about the incredible selection of fresh meats and good beer that is available at the Market, and Meredith took that as her cue to go check out some of the stores in the Central Park shopping center while Reid and I decided on the menu.  So, while she perused through one of Austin’s most unique shops, Clarksville Pottery and Gallery, Reid and I loaded up on local beers (Try anything from Blanco’s Real Ale Brewery; you will NOT be disappointed) and Pork Tenderloins, Sausage, and Ka-bobs, ordered up true market-style from behind the butcher counter.  After we were satisfied with our purchases, we dragged Meredith away from Scarbroughs and headed out to the Lake area, windows down, listening to the new Black Crowes album, “Warpaint.”  We spent the next few hours drinking great beer, eating some great BBQ, and generally enjoying life in March in the Hill Country.  Once night was upon us, it was time to throw on the Wranglers and boots and make the 3 minute trip down the street to the Backyard, where, for the next 2 hours, we were serenaded by Willie and his band under the close watch of the Oaks, the stars, and the GIANT Texas State Flag that dropped behind the stage just about the time Willie himself dropped into “Whiskey River.”  Well, Reid could officially check that one off, as could the rest of the 5000 folks that made it just another magical evening out at The Backyard.  And, after closing down another Hill Country legend, the “Cosmic Cowboy Honky-Tonk” known as Poodie’s Hilltop Bar and Grill (Which is, of course, run by Poodie himself, who just also happens to be Willie’s stage manager), located a few miles further West down Highway 71, we retired to a friend’s ranch, the grins on our faces only silenced by our own exhaustion.Sunday, March 16

Sunday brought another beautiful day, and after a morning spent playing by the pristine Pedernales River, we headed over to Rosie’s Tamale House, for, what else, a “Willie’s Plate.”  In addition to the excellent breakfast tacos (Which, when I attended Lake Travis High School, actually constituted a legitimate reason for morning tardiness), Rosie’s has been serving some of Central Texas’s most well-known celebrities its own brand of Tex-Mex for longer than I can remember.  SXSW was now “officially” over, and we headed back into Austin proper with our stomachs full of Mexican food, smiles on our faces, and the spring air all around us.  In many ways it was just another week in Austin, and for that I am proud.  On the other hand, however, there is NOTHING like the week of SXSW in Austin, and you owe it to yourself to see what I mean by that.  Until next time…I’ll leave you with a quote that pretty much sums it all up…“This town is Nuts…It’s my kind of place…I don’t EVER want to leave.”-Widespread Panic, “Postcard”

Whew!  What a Day 1 that was.  Could Day 2 even come CLOSE to topping that?  Well, by Noon on Thursday, it was clear that it was going to give it its best shot.  Another perk of working with KGSR are the special performances that take place when musicians go out of their way to come perform at the studio for us, and with SXSW in town, there was no shortage of that.  On Thursday , after a nice lunch provided by perhaps the best BBQ joint in Central Texas, the Salt Lick, London band Carbon/Silicon graced KGSR’s airwaves with its presence.  For those of you not familiar with this band, it is made up of two of the members of the revolutionary London group, The Clash…THE CLASH!!  Folks, this is Rock and Roll at its finest…no rules, no respect, no boundaries.  This was a performance that really can’t do words (at least any appropriate ones) justice.  They absolutely blew the roof off of the studios, and couldn’t have cared less about doing so.  OK, so my work day was officially done.  It was almost time to make my way down to SXSW, and the first big performance of the night, which was an all-star tribute to a fallen soldier who had returned from Iraq without the use of his legs.  We joined the mass that had gathered outside another of Austin’s finest BBQ restaurants, Stubb’s (which also happens to include a 2100 person outdoor amphitheater that hosts some of the finest acts around), and traded off holding our spots in line with quick trips across Red River to Jaime’s Mexican Restaurant for frozen ‘ritas and Dos Equis.  After a quick wait, we were ushered inside and were treated to a performance that included the likes of Brett Dennen, Mason Jennings, the RX Bandits, Billy Bragg, Ben Harper, and Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine fame), among others.  The evening culminated in a “This Land is Your Land” sing-along led by Morello, which had the crowd literally jumping for joy.  From there we headed right across the street to Club De Ville, which was transformed (as are most Austin bars during SXSW) from a nice place to go grab a drink after a night at Stubb’s into a full-blown performance venue.  A man named Eli Reed that goes by the name of “Paperboy” put on a show reminiscent of a young James Brown with the natural Limestone wall that encloses the Club De Ville patio as a backdrop.  Only in Austin.  Speaking of “Only in Austin,” the next show of the night was located at the entertainment “Mecca” known as St. David’s Church, located at 7th and San Jacinto.  Before I forget, a quick way to learn your way around Austin is to become familiar with the major rivers that run through Texas (See the Rio Grande, Brazos, Red, Colorado, etc.), as those make up the streets that run North/South through town, and then learn to count up from One, as that is how the East/West streets are numbered when heading North from LadyBird (I know she was a great lady, but I still like “Town”) Lake.  So, when you find yourself at the intersection of 7th and “San Jac,” St. David’s is the beautiful Church at the top of the hill that for every other week except for that of SXSW, actually functions as, well, a Church.  I guess it was appropriate, then, that on this night, Bela Fleck was performing there with Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet.  Bela is generally considered to be one of the most accomplished musicians ON THE PLANET, and for anyone that has seen him perform, particularly with his own quartet, the Flecktones, you know why.  And while Washburn’s own Quartet left something to be desired, there is no doubt that Bela was preaching to all of us on this night.  From the divine confines of St. David’s, I made my way back to the debauchery of the Red River District, where on any given night you have no idea who, or what, you will see.  And this night was no different.  A Canadian band by the name of Black Mountain was closing the evening’s festivities on the patio at the Mohawk, a club with so much promise, but, unfortunately, so many different owners and names that it has yet to establish a consistent identity.  This was some pretty “Out there” stuff, but, with this being SXSW, I took it for what it was and had a great time.  End of seminar…at least for Thursday.

Friday, March 14

Well, it had been a great couple of days, I thought.  I had seen TONS of music, been to a bunch of great venues; I guess I could have just been happy with that and started the long perilous road back to reality.  Then I realized…IT WAS ONLY FRIDAY!!  So, after a nice lunch again provided by the Salt Lick and the soothing Americana sounds of the BoDeans, I officially called it a week at the office and went back to my apartment to prepare myself for the arrival of one of my college buddies, who was driving in for the rest of the weekend from his home in Norman, Oklahoma.  Before I go any further, let me just reiterate that I am by no means from Norman (Although, if you’ve ever really been there and been shown around by a true local, it’s not as bad as all of you Longhorn fans make it out to be) and I did not attend OU (I am a proud alum of Colorado State University).  Anyway, I had told my friend Reid that this was one of those “Special” weekends in Austin, and he just had to come down and see what it was all about.  Unfortunately, he and his girlfriend didn’t have access to any wristbands of badges, so we had to focus on finding a couple of venues that we could just hang out at for a while (Even without a wristband or badge, you can still just buy a ticket for a venue and hang out if there are a couple of bands playing in a row that you want to catch).  With everything that was going on in Austin that week, I didn’t think that was going to be a problem.  Reid and Meredith made it into town just before dark, and we quickly headed down to an Austin staple, the Mean-Eyed Cat on West 5th, to get our fix of Johnny Cash heritage and local flavor.  The guys from Austin Homegrown (You SERIOUSLY need to go see these guys) were playing to a packed house, and we soaked in all the good vibes we could before we headed down to Opal Divine’s Freehouse on West 6th for the main course.  Despite the INCREDIBLY bad service, Opal’s on 6th is still a great place to go (especially if you aren’t in a hurry) to grab some quality food, chill in a relaxed patio environment, and, most importantly, for a WIDE selection of beers and bourbons.  In addition, during SXSW, Opal’s usually books some great “Jam” acts (See last year’s lineup of Les Claypool, MOFRO, and Jason Isbell of the Drive-By-Truckers), and this year was no different.  On this Friday night, Opal’s had set up a stage and tent in the main parking lot adjacent to the restaurant and was hosting a “Memphis Music Revue,” with the main attraction being the North Mississippi All-Stars.  Led by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, the All-Stars have long been mainstays of the Jam circuit, earning “Widespread” critical acclaim all over the globe.  Their raucous blend of barroom Southern Rock was in full force on this night, and they left us screaming for more by the time their set ended just after 2 a.m. on Saturday.  This was followed shortly by $20 (I think) cab ride home just up North Lamar and Friday night was officially in the books.

Last update tomorrow!

Wednesday, March 12

My SXSW 2008 began at La Zona Rosa, a 1200 person venue on 4th Street that has been bringing in the best in national and international touring acts for as long as I can remember.  March 12 was no different, as LZR welcomed Van Morrison for a special SXSW showcase to supplement his Sold-Out performance the night before at the Austin Music Hall.  Van and his 12-piece band did not disappoint, and he ripped through mostly new material for a very lucky and eventually “Satisfied” crowd at LZR.  Next up were the Austin Music Awards, which were held just down the street at the Music Hall, Direct Events’ newly renovated 4500 person performance venue.  The Music Awards are an Austin tradition, and are generally host to some of the most spontaneous and inspiring moments of SXSW (See last year’s surprise Pete Townshend performance).  While this year there were no Who sightings, it still made for an enjoyable evening, including a tribute to the late song-writer Walter Hyatt and performances by Austin’s own blues prodigy Gary Clark, Jr. (GO SEE THIS GUY) and Roky Erickson, of 13th Floor Elevator fame (For an almost guaranteed Roky sighting, look no further than Threadgill’s World Headquarters, where he is a regular).  From there my crew and I made our way to Austin’s Home of the Blues, Antone’s.  Founded by and named for the late Clifford Antone, this 900 person Blues club located at 5th and Lavaca is perhaps best known as being THE place where the late Stevie Ray Vaughn honed his skills and eventually became the legend that he was.  Unfortunately, there were also no SRV sightings on this night (Although his spirit is MOST DEFINITELY still in the room); instead Antone’s hosted a London musicians showcase, highlighted by the sounds of Lightspeed Champion and The Kills.  SXSW or no SXSW, make it a point to check this place out…the history of Antone’s will bring you back time and time again.  For the late-night (or early-morning, depending on how you look at it) show, I headed over to Emo’s, the 3-stage Alternative paradise located at the corner of 6th and Red River.  On this particular early morning, the headlining band was a group from Ohio known as the Black Keys, and let me just be blunt…THESE GUYS ROCK.  I don’t think I have EVER heard as much sound come from two guys in my entire life.  Their blues-influenced sound is fed with incredible energy, both from the band as well as the crowd, and left us thoroughly exhausted by the time 2 a.m. came around.

More to follow.....

Summer Camp Guide 2008 (PDF)