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Troy Restaurant: Don’t Hum-Miss Out on This Mediterranean Eatery

December 29, 2015 by

The delicious combination of Turkish and Mediterranean fare is a treat that you won’t find just anywhere, which is exactly what makes Troy Restaurant such a gem in North Austin. Its bright red walls and modern decor create a unique backdrop for your traditional Mediterranean meal, but the long, shared tables and natural light make the entire experience feel friendly and relaxing.

Troy Restaurant’s sampler plates are arguably the best way to get a true feel for the menu, as they include an assortment of meats, rice, and salad, as well as unlimited tea and an authentic Turkish dessert at the end of the meal. Made-from-scratch hummus and Turkish coffee are made true to Turkish tradition, and the prices are affordable, as well.

Stop by for the lively Thursday night karaoke or a quiet weekend lunch and you’ll likely see why so many locals love Troy!

Troy Restaurant
8105 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 897-2860
www.facebook.com/troy.restaurantaustin
www.yelp.com/biz/troy-austin

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Jasper’s: Gourmet Cookout Cuisine

December 22, 2015 by

While the words “gourmet” and “cookout” aren’t normally used in the same sentence, they are at Jasper’s restaurant in Austin. This uniquely conceptual eatery is stylish and upscale, but its menu of so-called backyard cuisine is anything but pretentious.

Enter the sleek, modern dining room, with its dim lighting and artistic décor, and you’ll be met with a menu filled with Maytag bleu cheese potato chips, Texas gulf crab cakes, and Pimentón Rotisserie Chicken, as well as slow-smoked baby back ribs prepared just like they are in backyards all across Texas. Cast iron sides are the perfect accompaniments, and Jasper’s full bar churns out thoughtful cocktails, craft beers and premium wines to go along with the meal. For a gourmet spin on a taste that’s truly Texan, Jasper’s is one of the very best spots in town!

Reservations can be made online or by calling Jasper’s directly.

Jasper’s
11506 Century Oaks
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 834-4111
www.jaspersaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jaspers-austin-7

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Zed’s Restaurant: Enjoy Music With Your Meal

December 15, 2015 by

Austin is known for its numerous live music venues, and at places like Zed’s Restaurant, you can even enjoy the eclectic sounds of live music over a gourmet meal. This combination restaurant and venue has a modern, casual style and a scenic location that’s a bit off the beaten path, but its sunny patio areas and warm wooden interior make it feel like truly hip hotspot.

On Sundays, Zed’s Restaurant hosts a jazz brunch with the lively sounds of live jazz music accompanying egg dishes and morning libations, while dinner on the weekends usually features some of the best in local musical talent. With a menu filled with dishes like Ahi tuna steaks, pancetta cheeseburgers, and petite filets, a decadent dessert menu, and a long wine and beer list, Zed’s Restaurant is the perfect place to visit for an evening (or afternoon) out in Austin.

Zed’s Restaurant
501 Canyon Ridge Drive
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 339-9337
www.zeds.bz
www.yelp.com/biz/zeds-austin-5

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

How to Transform an Old Piece of Furniture With Paint

December 8, 2015 by

Do you have a well-made but outdated piece of furniture in your home that you hate to throw away? Luckily, it’s easy to transform that ugly wooden chair or banged-up dresser into something fresh and modern with only a simple coat of paint. Here are a few tips that will save you money on new furniture by showing you how to re-vamp your existing pieces.

  1. Sand it thoroughly. One of the most important steps when painting furniture is to completely remove the old stain or paint first. Sand the entire piece with a medium-grit sandpaper on an electric sander, or if you don’t own one, get to sanding by hand—just make sure you don’t sand too much and damage the wood underneath.
  2. Wipe off the residue. After sanding, wipe the entire surface using a tack cloth designed specifically to remove sawdust.
  3. Prime the piece. Some people say that you don’t need to prime a piece of furniture, but if there’s a chance that the wood might be laminate, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Purchase a primer designed for your specific needs and smooth it on with a foam roller.
  4. Paint. Apply at least three coats of paint using a different foam roller, allowing at least eight hours of drying time between coats. Once the third coat dries, your furniture will look like new!

The 5 Biggest Mistakes You Make When Painting Furniture [Country Living]
Paint Makeovers: An Expert Tells All [Bob Villa]
Quick Furniture Makeovers for Fashionable Results [Benjamin Moore]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

NeWorlDeli: Taste the Art of the Deli Sandwich

November 24, 2015 by

Everyone loves a good sandwich, and the folks behind Austin’s NeWorlDeli believe that a truly great sandwich doesn’t need to rely on trendy presentation or fancy fixings. This casual deli serves traditional sandwiches piled high with simple ingredients such as roasted meats, fresh cheeses, and freshly baked breads. Regulars love NeWorlDeli’s French Dip, Reuben, and the Avocado Veggie sandwiches, the latter being entirely meatless for vegetarian customers. The menu also comprises a variety of burgers and fresh salads, and the New York cheesecake provides a sweet finish to any meal.

The restaurant’s interior is beautifully decorated with warm shades of gold, blue, and red, and artwork lines every wall. Comfortable tables are comfortable for lunch with a friend, and the spacious counter makes it easy to order. With a cooler full of beers and wines and live music every Monday night, NeWorlDeli is a sandwich shop with with a whole lot more to offer.

NeWorlDeli
4101 Guadalupe Street
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 451-7170
www.neworldeli.com
www.yelp.com/biz/neworldeli-austin

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Sonora Hot Dogs: Get the Frank Con Todo

November 17, 2015 by

Sonora Hot Dogs may look like a mere food truck at first glance—and that assessment isn't entirely wrong. But the Sonoran-style hot dogs, fully loaded burritos, and gooey quesadillas that come from its kitchen on wheels are a few notches above your typical fast food. The gourmet versions of American comfort food have won the acclaim of local publications like Eater Austin and even the food critics from nationwide restaurant encyclopedia Zagat.

Regulars highly recommend getting the Sonoran-style hot dog "con todo," topped with everything from mustard and mayo to crispy strips of bacon. Sonora also offers a meat-free veggie dog version zig-zagged with Vegenaise. You can also opt for an overstuffed carne asada burrito, which features not only the grilled steak, but also mashed avocado and freshly made pico de gallo. Get the carne asada as a quesadilla if you're craving cheese.

Sonora Hot Dogs
5715 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 994-8982
www.tlocs.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sonora-hot-dogs-austin

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

How to Create an Eye-Catching Vignette

November 11, 2015 by

While design magazines and blogs make it seem effortless to throw a few things together on a shelf and make it look stylish, in real life, it’s not quite as easy. If you want to learn how to create a magazine-worthy vignette, these simple tips will show you the way.

  1. Start with a blank slate. No matter what type of finished product you have in mind, it’s always best to start with a blank surface so that you can really visualize where things will go.
  2. Gather complementary colors. Before placing the items in your vignette, make sure that they all look good together. They don’t have to match exactly, but they should look purposeful together.
  3. Start with the largest item. Place your largest item first, whether it’s a lamp or a vase of flowers.
  4. Think of layers. Place items at varying heights and depths, such as a couple of large frames against the wall and smaller candles at the front. You can also stack books horizontally to offset the vertical items.
  5. Play with spacing. Move objects a few times, then step back and admire your work to find the right spacing.
  6. Consider texture. Finally, create texture in your vignette. Incorporate lush plants, flowers, feathers or even a woven basket as a finishing touch.

Creating a Well-Styled Table Vignette [Jenna Burger]
8 Tips for Making Beautiful Vignettes [HGTV]
Rule of Three and Odd Numbers [Cecilia Walker Design]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

November 9, 2015 by

To enter the Sweepstakes, visit our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends December 31st, 2015. We suggest you like our page to keep informed about future sweepstakes and community happenings.

For mobile users, click here to enter.

Filed Under: Life at The Paddock at Norwood Apartments Tagged With: ,

Fork and Vine: New American Fare with Austin Flair

November 4, 2015 by

The "Austin-inspired" dishes at Fork and Vine are almost too pretty to eat—almost. Head chef Camden Stuerzenberger plates his New American cuisine beautifully, but it tastes even better than it looks. Case in point: the ptrtzel bread pudding. Smothered with mustard-caramel sauce and topped with a dollop of whipped cream, the pretzel bread pudding walks the line between dinner and dessert.

Before you indulge in something sweet, try one of Chef Camden's entrees or a few tapas. The small plates include PEI mussels in guajillo chile broth, wood-fired veggies with shrimp and Thai curry, or house-made chips with eclectic dips. Full entrees range from wild grouper with pickled shrimp to a massive 36-ounce cowboy ribeye steak, served with crunchy onions and bleu cheese butter. Any of the eats pair well with a pint from the expansive beer list or a glass from the equally impressive wine list.

Fork and Vine
3010 W. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 489-7000
www.forkvine.com
www.yelp.com/biz/fork-and-vine-austin

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Highland Lanes: Join a Bowling League at This Old-Fashioned Alley

October 27, 2015 by

If you’re looking for an old-fashioned bowling alley where you can enjoy an affordable game with your friends, Highland Lanes might be just the place near The Paddock at Norwood. This well-maintained facility contains numerous lanes complete with electronic scoreboards and high-tech flatscreen televisions displaying your score. There is ample seating for your entire team at the end of your lane, and on weekends, you can even play in the dark using glow-in-the-dark equipment during Electric Bowl.

There are optional bumpers on each lane for the little ones, as well as a well-stocked pro shop where you can rent shoes and balls if you don’t have your own. Grab a juicy, grilled hamburger or a hot dog from the attached Lebowski’s Grill to make a day (or night) out of your bowling experience.

Highland Lanes is open 9:30 a.m. to midnight Sundays through Thursdays and 9:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Highland Lanes
8909 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 458-1215
www.highlandlanes.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jumpoline-park-austin?sort_by=date_desc

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,
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