Archive for September, 2009

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September 9, 2009

Melrose Place and other TV I Can’t Help But Watch

Who else watched the Melrose Place premiere last night? I loved it. Then again, I love cheesy nighttime soaps and used to watch the old Melrose Place (what were my parents thinking?! the whole fam would watch together … did I know at the time how scandalous it all was??), plus love the new 90210.

Anyway, this is gonna be a staple. Thank goodness for TiVO. My other TV picks, in order of importance to my life (When you have TiVO, you rank order your Season Passes so that when there’s a conflict, TiVO ensures you get the most important one. So I’ve given this a lot of thought):

1) Gossip Girl – obvi. #1 show. They head to college. But not before some scandalous summer affairs. Thanks to Austin Eavesdropper/@tollym(same person) and @gaston213 for sharing the GG love on twitter and finding this trailer:

OMG. Premieres Monday Sept 14 at 8pm!!

2) 90210 – I love Shenae Grimes (Annie). I know she needs to eat and stop feeling the pressure from young Hollywood to be so damn thin, but I still love her, and I love her character who is struggling to find the balance between her Kansas roots and her new Beverly Hills lifestyle. Premiered last night as well, but I didn’t have time to watch it … TiVO!

3) Army Wives – There is no credible explanation for why I love this show. a) it’s on Lifetime, and I’m no sap (k, maybe just a lil); b) I am not typically interested in the military; c) it’s about women with kids, not scandalous kids (lookin’ at you, Gossip Girl). But I cannot stop watching. It’s crazy compelling, and it got me through the summer when nothing else was on. I won’t leave you now, Army Wives!

4) One Tree Hill – This particular one may negate my recommendations because it’s such a teenybopper show (does anyone use the words “teenybopper” anymore?) but I will always love James Lafferty. I bought Season on the Brink to see him play more basketball. Never heard of it? That’s my point. I’ve been watching this show for SIX years now, and I love the addition of Austinite Austin Nichols (Julian) to the cast. Premieres before GG this Monday Sept 14 at 7pm.

5) Melrose Place – Despite my accolades for it in the opening paragraph of this post, it still has to prove its mettle against perennial faves and guilty pleasures. Premiered last night; encore Friday at 8pm.

6) ? The Beautiful Life: TBL – Mischa Barton’s new show. Another CW show. I’ll probably love it. But if these other 5 shows hold up, that’s already 5 HOURS a week of TV, minus commercial time. So I may not have room in my schedule. But the joys of TiVO include saving eps up for weekend marathons! Premieres Wednesday Sept 16 at 8pm.

… Man, the CW really has my number. Should I be embarrassed?

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September 6, 2009

Labor Day: Free Day of Yoga

It’s back! Most of Austin’s yoga studios are offering FREE classes Monday. All over town, all types of yogas. Here for details.

The schedule is MASSIVE, and they’ve divided it up into Morning / Afternoon / Evening classes, as well as have separate listings for Austin-vicinity places. My suggestion? Bikram at BYD: http://www.bydaustin.com. I made my mom go with me to last year’s Free Day of Yoga and she’s hooked; she attends Bikram 5 days a week and wrote about her love for it here. It’d be fun to do a double or triple day, trying out a few different styles.

Easy labor for Labor Day!

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September 4, 2009

Labor Day Weekend

My brother and I are having some friends over tonight (ok, it’s a rager), but other than that I have NO PLANS for Labor Day Weekend. This is rare, people, and I’m pretty excited about it. I’m thinking I’m going to embrace the nothingness and DO nothing. But were I to do things, what they would be follows:

Saturday

Game time is 6pm. Yeah, you know what game I’m talking about. Horns season opener against … I can’t even remember, but it doesn’t even matter. The important stuff–tailgates, burnt orange everything, and boozing–will be happening regardless of opponent. Maybe even in spite of, because I know plenty of people who plan to tailgate and not go to the game.

  • Anyway, if I was going whole-hog (whole-horn?), I’d hit J. Black’s for their Breakfast Club from 10am-6pm, where the front windows will be blacked out for a brunch & game day menu + drink specials.  They have a shuttle to take you to tailgate parties and the game. Perfect!
  • [Secret note: Keep an eye out for the Rare/Heineken Tailgate just north of campus]
  • If you’re slightly classier (is getting drunk at 10am EVER classy??), hit up Sagra’s Tailgate Brunch from 10:30am to 3pm with $1 mimosas and bellinis, then happy hour specials ($2 off all drinks, 1/2 price pizzas) from 4-7pm. In a sweet spot at 17th & San Antonio, right across the street from the Guadalupe Garage(GUG), with plenty of parking on the street and behind the restaurant, this is an excellent place to start a long day.
  • Too cool for football? Gone With the Wind is definitely your style.
    Part of the summer film series, the classic (love!!) is playing the Paramount Theater (713 Congress Avenue) at 7:30pm
; $8 Regular Admission;
 $7 Online Advance Admission info & tickets

Sunday

Party Barge. Obvi. $25 gets you all-you-can-drink beer AND water. Steal of a deal. You can bring anything else, including food for the grill.
12:30-5pm, departs from Highland Lakes Marina in Volente

Order tix here: http://www.austinssc.com/register_partybarge.html

Monday

Nothing?! The holiday of rest! Relaxation! Sleeping late!

Scattered throughout the weekend

Restaurants I haven’t tried but still want to:

  • Garrido’s
  • East Side Showroom
  • Cheer Up Charlie’s (trailer)
  • Moo Moo’s (trailer)
  • The Grove (I’ve been once, loved it, want to go back)

Movies I want to see:

  • Extract
  • Final Destination
  • Julie & Julia (I am a girl underneath it all!)

Is it really the end of summer?

I’ll leave you with: http://txtitfortat.blogspot.com/2009/09/daily-cuteness.html

Posted in Going Out, Sports/Fitness, Things to do ... all the time | 2 Comments »

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September 3, 2009

Free Kibble – Feed Homeless Dogs & Cats

Similar to www.freerice.com, which donates 10 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program to end hunger,  www.freekibble.com donates 10 pieces of kibble to homeless dogs and cats everywhere at the click of your mouse. While you can play Free Rice (a word definition game) for as long as you like and donate as many grains of rice as vocabulary words you can define (you only donate when you get it right), you can only answer one Bow-Wow Trivia a day, and even if you get it wrong, you’ll donate kibble. I actually remember to do this because you can set it to send you a reminder email once a day. My lovable (insane) rescue pup was once homeless, so I keep on doing it … one tiny click can make a big difference.

Freekibble just announced that they have now generated over 1.5 MILLION MEALS to homeless dogs and cats. Working with Halo, Purely for Pets, Freekibble just donated 65,000 lbs of kibble to 37 more shelters (none in TX) desperately in need … You can read the full story here, http://blog.halopets.com/2009/08/31/mimi-13-halo/

Follow Freekibble on TWITTER, and for each new follower at http://twitter.com/freekibble, Halo will donate a meal to freekibble to feed shelter dogs and cats – and ANOTHER meal for each new follower of Halo at http://twitter.com/halopets – up to 100,000 meals each – Spread the word!

Keep kibbling. Nali

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September 2, 2009

Dressing Up Ghosts

Ok, not really. First we’re dressing, then we’re ghosting.

The new Dress Shop boutique above Elephant Room is finally throwing their kickoff cocktail party to show off fancy frocks from LA and NYC. It’s about time we got a new store in the heart of downtown that wasn’t on Second Street, where it all starts to look the same. The party starts Thursday at 6pm with a fashion show at 8pm and cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, gift bags (!!!), and music throughout. Here’s the link, though the site is still to come: www.dressshopaustin.com

Then, check out the new Ghost Room, which is the old Ginger Man dressed up (or is it down?) as a live music venue. Break the new place in with Caprice spinning old-school soul and funk and Redd Volkaert. Doors open at 4pm, music starts at 6pm. No cover. theghostroom.com

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September 1, 2009

New 34th Street Cafe Happy Hour Starts Sept 8

In a city that surprisingly lacks GREAT happy hours (aside from TRIO and Imperia, of course), a new deal is a welcome addition. Especially in the “Midtown” area, where, exempting the Triangle, few restaurants mess with a happy hour. Enter Brykerwoods’ 34th Street Café’s new happy hour, starting next week. At less than a mile from my house, I’m sure to give it at least one whirl. Well, except that I’ve never been to Snow Pea’s sushi (amazing!) happy hour and it’s a block from my house. Hrmph. I digress.

Beginning September 8, 34th Street Café will have weekday happy hour specials from 4-7pm. Apps will be half-price and include delectable homemade pizzas and cheese and charcuterie plates. Happy hour wine and beer specials will change daily and may include specialty wine cocktails, half-price wines by the glass and deals on select beers. The restaurant’s newly redesigned website will have daily specials listed.

Other happs at 34th Street Café:

  • Three-course prix fixe dinners ($24) on Mondays and Tuesdays, which include either a seafood or steak entrée and a glass of wine.
  • New recipes for the appetizer menu: P.E.I. Mussels ($12) cooked in white wine and served with chervil, shallots, garlic chips and grilled bread; Ahi Tuna Tartare ($12) in a lemon-basil oil and served with sea salt, tapenade and toasted focaccia; and Pan-Fried Frog Legs ($9) served over roasted sunchoke puree, a delicate combination of saffron and Jerusalem artichokes.
  • Beginning Saturday, September 26 and throughout the autumn season, 34th Street Café will bring back its Lounge 34. Evoking the characteristics of a comfortable yet chic after-hours club, Lounge 34 events begin at 10:30pm with local DJs spinning.

For more info: call (512) 371-3400 or visit www.34thStreetCafe.com.

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