Signature Cocktails: Make Your Next Party Great!

It’s the small details that make celebrations truly memorable. To impress your guests, delight them with the thoughtful details, like signature cocktails! Signature cocktails are a fun and easy way to set the tone for your next party. Not only that, but it will save you from setting up a full bar! Your guests will love sipping on your signature concoction as they mix and mingle.

Enhance the Theme
Make  sure your signature drink fits the overall feel of the party. For example, if you’re preparing a meal with a Mexican flair, opt for a Margarita or Sangria. Or, if you’re going for a swanky feel, be sure your signature cocktail includes a classy ingredient like champagne.

Make in Advance
The last thing you want is to be mixing drinks all night when you should be enjoying your party! Make a pitcher (or two) of your signature cocktail in advance to save you from playing bartender.

Crowd Pleaser
Make sure you choose a cocktail that will delight a variety of palates – meaning stay away from anything too obscure or too strong. A hint of citrus or a tinge of sweetness is often a good way to go, like a vodka & cranberry spritzer with lime.

Don’t Forget the Garnish
Nothing makes a cocktail feel classier than a little garnish. Think about what would pair well with your drink, and make sure it’s available to your guests – a few berries in the bottom of a champagne flute or a lemon twist to brighten a martini.

Cheers!

Check Out Austin Fan Fest 2012!

Celebrating 2012's inaugural U.S. Grand Prix, Austin Fan Fest 2012 comes to downtown Austin from November 16-18th. If you haven't heard, the U.S. GP is a Formula 1 race taking place that weekend at Austin's newly constructed Circuit of the Americas race track, and Austin Fan Fest brings the city even more fun with an array of musical acts from all over the country, along with great local and regional bands.

Fan Fest's headline performers Aerosmith, Flo Rida, and Enrique Iglesias will play on main stages for the Fest's three night engagement, while smaller stages will showcase acts like Lupe Fiasco and The Wallflowers.

Around downtown Austin, attendees can also interact with F1 racing related installations, like racing simulators and Formula 1 cars. Arts exhibits, parties, and family friendly events all over downtown make the whole thing complete.

Want to know more? Click here to learn about Austin Fan Fest 2012.

Captivating Classic Adventure Movies

If you’re in the mood for a film that gets the adrenaline pumping, why not opt for an action-packed adventure film? Here are five of the best choices to you’re your next movie night as heart-poundingly fun as possible:
 
King Kong (1933)
No list of adventure films would be complete without this classic of the genre. “King Kong” follows the adventures of a film crew who goes to a tropical island to finish the shooting of a film. While on the island, they encounter a massive gorilla who develops a passion for the film’s female star (played by Fay Wray), and the movie follows the crew as they struggle to save her and themselves from the gorilla’s brutal will. 
 
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
This epic adventure film, directed by David Lean, tells the story of a real-life man named Thomas Edward Lawrence – an individual who led a guerilla army to triumph in the Arabian desert (during the Arab revolt against the Turks in World War I). The movie is packed with sweeping visuals and action-packed scenes as Lawrence forges ahead, eventually helping the British bring down the Ottoman Empire. 
 
North by Northwest (1959)
This Hithcock classic combines intrigue with adventures when a New York ad executive (played by Cary Grant) gets mistaken as a government agent. He flees across the country while being ferociously pursued by a group of foreign spies, and the film brings viewers on a harrowing journey as he struggles to outsmart the spies and survive. The movie includes a romantic thread along with the ample amounts of adventure, so the movie appeals on many levels.
 
Goldfinger (1964)
This James Bond classic, directed by Gary Hamilton, follows Bond as he untangles gold magnate Auric Goldfinger’s plot to infiltrate the Fort Knox gold reserve. The goal of Goldfinger and his henchmen is nothing less than to obliterate the world economy. Bond’s mission to stop their plot and save the world brings up against many obstacles – and the fun is in watching him maneuver his way forward despite the tangles placed in his path.
 
Top Gun (1986)
This film, staring Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer, follows the students of a top US flying school that are working toward becoming advanced fighter pilots. As they compete to be the best in the class, the main character Maverick (played by Cruise) combines his sky adventures with earthly pursuit of a female instructor in the flight school. 
 

TRIO: Fine New American Fare

Austin diners looking for a high-quality meal have been flocking to Trio in the Four Seasons Hotel for years, knowing that a meal here is a delight. Chef de Cuisine Grant McDonald brings a fascinating life experience to the kitchen here, from a boyhood in Norway eating farm to table to a chemistry major at McGill University, McDonald’s diverse influences show up in the beautifully-composed menu, which boasts dishes like awesome Gulf ceviche as an appetizer. Entrees are equally impressive, with diners raving about the perfectly-cooked flatiron steak, the rack of lamb cooked in rosemary, garlic and house-made mustard, and the gulf redfish with corn and pumpkin. The wine list is very good as well, pairing excellently with the flavors on the menu. The Sunday brunch buffet packs the restaurant to the rafters with an incredible selection of tasty options, including unforgettable made-to-order eggs Benedict, stuffed French toast, pastries, muesli and more.

TRIO
Four Seasons Hotel
98 San Jacinto Boulevard
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 685-8300
http://www.yelp.com/biz/trio-austin-2

Happy Autumn!

As the mosaic of nature's colors arrive, the pumpkins grow in the cornfields, and the cornucopia of harvest festivals enrich our area, we want to wish you a Happy Autumn.

Salvage Vanguard Theater: An Independent Theater Arts Group

With a credo like “Keep Austin Weird,” it’s not surprising that the city boasts a large number of independent arts and theater organizations. One of the most well-established is the Salvage Vanguard Theater, which has presented exceptional plays and other performances for years. The company stages a wide variety of materials, from drama to comedy and even puppetry. Tickets are sold on a sliding scale as well, making it affordable for the community. The performance space is small but comfortable, with good sightlines and decent seating. The theater also hosts a wide variety of educational programs and other creative venues for actors, directors and more. The Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation is one Austin’s best resources for developing your improve skills, both for actors and non-actors. The theater also runs a series of summer day camps for kids, yoga seminars and more. It’s a fantastic resource for the whole community.

Salvage Vanguard Theater
2803 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78722
http://www.yelp.com/biz/salvage-vanguard-theater-austin

Louisiana Longhorn Cafe: “Where the Bayou Meets the BBQ”

According to the restaurant, Louisiana Longhorn Café boasts “The Best Cajun Food West of the Sabine River.” Where’s that? In the heart of the Louisiana Bayou, of course. All the proprietors hail from Cajun Country, and LLC recreates the laid-back world they grew up in.  When we say this is an authentic experience, we’re not just talking about the Mardi Gras beads; we mean all the food comes from “borrowed” family recipes, the piquant, generations-old work of people with French names and the patience to make sure those Fried Pickles have just the right snap. The Shrimp Acadiana is a peppery eye-opener, and we haven’t had Etouffee this good since we spent a long night in New Orleans. Grab some of “The World’s Coldest Beer” and toast the alligator on the wall—they fry up his buddies here, and after one bite, you’ll wish you had a few in your back yard, too. Louisiana Longhorn Café is closed Mondays.

Louisiana Longhorn Cafe
200B E Main Ave
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 248-2900

French Quarter Grille: Enjoy Cajun Cuisine

With fantastic cajun cuisine, the French Quarter Grille is a friendly spot that's great for casual fine-dining. This cozy space serves up a menu full of incredible gulf specialties. Incredible incarnations of classics like etoufée and gumbo along with inspired culinary creations like pecan-crusted trout and crawfish beignets. Pastas and salads are also available. Save some room for dessert, too, to sample incredible fare like a croissant bread pudding or an orange crème brûlée. The lunch menu has a number of these great choices, and some classic po-boy sandwiches, too! Portions are generous without being overwhelming, and service is professional and helpful. French Quarter Grille is Cajun cooking at its finest.

French Quarter Grille
13000 N. IH-35
Suite 600
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 832-9090
http://www.yelp.com/biz/french-quarter-grille-austin

Torchy’s Tacos: Tacos Perfected

If you haven’t ever had an elaborate taco, it can be hard to imagine that such a thing exists. After all, how interesting can a dish that comprises nothing but a bit of meat, a handful of veggies, and some grated cheese be? Check out Torchy’s Tacos in Austin to see the true potential of the taco. For its signature taco, Torchy’s has taken a tip from New Mexico and crafted the Green Chile Pork: roasted pork carnitas with green chiles, dressed in fresh queso sauce and topped with cilantro, onions, and lime. Or check out Torchy’s Tacos's monthly specials. One recent favorite was the American (their proudest taco yet, they say), with crispy fried chicken, pineapple coleslaw, jack cheese, pico de gallo salsa, and cilantro, drizzled with chipotle ranch sauce.

Torchy’s Tacos
5119 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 382-0823

Happy Labor Day!

Wishing you a very happy and relaxing Labor Day!

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