AroundAustin.Com

Austin Luxury Home for Rent

Enjoy a beautifully landscaped Hill Country setting in the heart of Austin.  This Tuscan villa is minutes from the Lake Bird Lake and Trails, Zilker park, the Capitol, the University of Texas and downtown   Call (888) 899-3580, Sham Nasta, Realtor

This gorgeous house at 124 Birnam Wood Court, Austin, Texas  is now for rent.  Their is more information on this amazing home at http://www.stratfordmountain.com

124 Birnam Wood Ct, Austin, TX 78746
Call (888) 899-3580, Sham Nasta, #1 Custom Homes, Inc-Realtor, $6950 per month

Details:

• 7155 sq ft.
• 5 Bedrooms, 4.5 bath, 3 Living areas
• Luxurious Private Master Suite, children and entertainment areas.
• Gourmet Kitchen with Viking Range, 2 dishwashers, top of the line stainless steel appliances
• Resort style heated pool and spa with waterfall.
• State of art media room and home theatre
• Putting green, game room with second kitchen,
• Inlaid travertine and granite baths, huge tubs, large closets.
• 3 decks
• Exemplary Eanes School District.

I plan on taking some pictures of my family and I’ve been looking around for backgrounds that would say Austin. Where should I go?

We have several suggestions to give your family portrait that "Austin" feel. In the spring Bluebonnet shots are mandatory for Texans, aren't they? Year-round there are several other options:

Try the park on the south-side of Riverside. There is a hill next to the Long Center that will give you a perfect view of the Austin Skyline and Lady Bird Lake, and at the same time the little-ones can check out the fountains and roll down the hill.

 

Kayak on Lady Bird Lake to get the best downtown view

The water level in Lake Travis is so low right now that it is hard to go sailing or boating. Town Lake....I mean Lady Bird Lake, on the other hand, is a constant level lake with delightfully cool water.   I've been curious about the kayaks and canoes on the lake so I decided to head down to the Rowing Dock to rent a kayak and get out on the lake on Labor Day.  

It was so busy that we had to circle twice to get parking.  However, the folks at the dock were efficient.  Soon as we turned over our license and $15 (cash or check please) at the dock they got us in a kayak built for two.  We headed to the "ritzy" part of town paralleling Stratford and gawked at the mansion.   I've been to a party or two at those mansions but the view from the water side is amazing.   Turning the kayak around at Red Bud Isle (lots of dogs playing in the water) we decided to cross under the Mopac bridge...it is LOUD under there.  A short way down you get a spectacular view of downtown.  I definitely need to bring my camera next time.   We did manage to see turtles basking in the sun and a couple of herons catching there dinner. 

All in all a nice way to spend the afternoon.  Kayak rentals on Lady Bird Lake are offered by 

Rowing Dock
2418 Stratford Dr
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 459-0999

Texas Rowing Center
1541 West Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 467-7799

Zilker Park Boat Rentals
2100 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 478-3852

Austin Land and Cattle Second Helping

Austin Land and Cattle, one of Austin's best steak houses announces a $35 prix fixe menu on Sunday night with a second helping for a local charity.   For each dinner sold a different deserving organization will be the Second Helping recipient each month and receive $5.    

Austin Land and Cattle Company
1205 N Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX,  78703 (512) 472-1813
http://www.austinlandandcattlecompany.com/

Free cupcakes at Delish on Thursday, June 18 2009

Delish is celebrating it's grand opening with complimentary cupcakes all day and complimentary champagne and wine from 6 pm - 8 pm.   Delish is located on 209 W. 3rd street.   You don't have to hang around outside either--Delish has a gorgeous location ... all the more important with the 100 degree heat.  

Their present menu board shows Mexican Vanilla, Chocolate, Lemon Zest, Strawberry, Ginger Carrot, and Red Velvet.   Mmmm....

For more info:
209 W. 3rd St.
512.739.2460
http://www.delish-cupcakes.com/

Krause Springs--a beautiful Texas swimming hole

Krause Springs, in Spicewood Texas, is one of Texas' most beautiful swimming holes.  It is located about 30 miles west of Austin.  Krause Springs has many natural sites to explore. There are 32 springs on the property, and several feed the manmade pool and the natural pool which flows into Lake Travis. 

www.krausesprings.net, 404 Krause Springs Rd Spicewood, TX 78669 - (830) 693-4181

E-Learning Symposium 2009 - Doing More with Less

I spend my days trying to figure out how to improve the productivity of the most valuable part of any organization--it's people.  I'm excited that we're having a conference for like minded folks in Austin--usually I get to get on a plane and travel to these conferences.  The elearning Symposium 2009 is on June 4, 2009 at the Holiday Inn, Northwest in Austin.  Speakers include Jim Moshinskie from Baylor, Dr. McDonald from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Tonia Dousay from Texas A&M, Hiram Kuykendall, Debby Kalk, and John Gillis.  Dr. McDonald's Pulse!! program is one of the most sophisticated e-learning programs in the world--a must see.  

The symposium will focus on helping you create cost-effective e-learning programs that help make your folks more productive.  So if you're an instructional designer, trainer, or just someone your boss is bugging about implementing learning programs.  Register early because there's a significant early bird discount--and quite honestly this conference is likely to sell out.  

More information about the conference is available at www.elearningcouncil.com

I spend my days trying to figure out how to improve the productivity of the most valuable part of any organization--it's people.  I'm excited that we're having a conference for like minded folks in Austin--usually I get to get on a plane and travel to these conferences.  The elearning Symposium 2009 is on June 4, 2009 at the Holiday Inn, Northwest in Austin.  Speakers include Jim Moshinskie from Baylor, Dr. McDonald from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Tonia Dousay from Texas A&M, Hiram Kuykendall, Debby Kalk, and John Gillis.  Dr. McDonald's Pulse!! program is one of the most sophisticated e-learning programs in the world--a must see.  

The symposium will focus on helping you create cost-effective e-learning programs that help make your folks more productive.  So if you're an instructional designer, trainer, or just someone your boss is bugging about implementing learning programs.  Register early because there's a significant early bird discount--and quite honestly this conference is likely to sell out.  

More information about the conference is available at www.elearningcouncil.com

Austin's Deep Nasta, President of the Audience Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Local Realtor, AroundAustin.com contributor, and philanthropist was elected President of the Audience on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon by a unanimous vote.   Some, in the Twitterverse call him the best audience participant ever on the show.   Leave it to Deep to be in New York for a month and end up on a national TV show.  Don't y'all think Mr. President should talk to Jimmy about bringing the show to Austin?  Sounds like a issue that Mr. Leffingwell and Mr. McCracken can get behind.

Trish Morrison has started a Facebook group to extend the silliness ummm I mean the reign...sheesh.

P.S. Deep didn't get to keep the dog.  

Gorgeous Westlake House for Rent

Want to have the perfect place to entertain your friends, and have fun with the family?  This gorgeous 5 bedroom house (with 5 full bathrooms!) in Westlake is now for rent.  The house was remodeled in 2008 by one of Austin’s premier custom home builders—#1 Custom Homes.  When I toured the house, I loved that it’s nestled in a quiet corner of Westlake at the end of a narrow lane.  It has a huge flat lot (1.4 acres) and yet has some of the most amazing views of the city. 

To find more information about renting it (or buying it) go to #1 Custom Homes or call Sham Nasta at 512 698 3158.

 

Daryl Colburn Copper Sculpture Workshop

One of the must stops for me at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is Daryl Coburn's booth. I absolutely love the art and the craft involved in his copper art and sculpture.   This year I found out that Daryl offers a two day workshop called Embrace your Essence.  In this workshop you learn to work with copper, a hammer, an acetylene torch and small hand tools to create a gorgeous copper sculpture that you take home with you.  Just as importantly you spend a lot of time with a journal writing your thoughts and feelings about the blocks you have towards achieving what you'd like to achieve.

Day 1 begins with cutting out a 2'x3' sheet of copper from a larger sheet (oh boy! get to play with a hot torch).   Then you anneal the copper and crumple it into a ball--flames and a hammer.    You spend a large portion of the day hammering the copper, and annealing it.  Annealing realigns the molecules in the copper, and softens it making it easier to hammer and shape--Daryl uses this as a life metaphor.   You have plenty of time waiting for the copper to cool--you can use the time productively by journaling.   

Day 2 you get to unfold your sculpture (another metaphor).  You unfold it by using your hands and pry bars.  I tried to use my hands as much as possible..it was interesting the marks my hands would leave on the soft surface.  When the copper gets stiff you use the torch to anneal it and start prying it apart again.  It was interesting to me that everyone got to a point where they sensed that they'd created a piece of sculpture (instead of a bit of crumpled metal) and stopped.   Of course Daryl helped by urging us to look at the metal at every step instead of just banging away at it.  

After the sculpture is complete you add a patina using common household chemicals.  It is astonishing how you can get such a deep patina by using heat, hammering and a couple of common chemicals.   After two days of hard work and introspection (under the eye of a master) you've created a piece of art.  A deeply satisfying experience.  If you're interested in creating art, like working with your hands or just want a memorable experience I highly recommend this workshop.

Daryl Colburn Embrace your Essence Workshop Information

Austin Restaurant Week - March 1-4 & March 8-11, 2009

 

The best way to try out some of Austin's top restaurants (and support the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas) is to attend Austin Restaurant Week. With over fifty $25/$35 prix fixe menus, Austinites can try some of the best food Austin has to offer at a reasonable price.

March 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th and then March 8-11, will be the second time Austin Restaurant Week has come to town. Check out participating restaurants and their menus and be sure to call for reservations.

Austin Restaurant Week - March 1-4 & March 8-11, 2009