Tag: Austin

2009 in Review

December 31st, 2009 · · Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America, Birthdays, holidays, Houston, lists, love, memory, misadventures, music, new thing(s) of the week, Personal Finance, savory, still-frames, the grind, the not so single life 17 comments - Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In comparison to 2008, 2009 was awful! The one thing I can think of that 2009 had over 2008 was that I read more than double the books I read in 2008. I’m anticipating the fresh feel of a new year that is 2010. In the meantime, here’s a review of how my year has gone with heavier emphasis on my blessings verses my misfortunes.

Note: All links open in a new window.

January 2009


Celebrating New Year’s with the boyfriend

February 2009


Alan and I at the Killer’s Concert

March 2009


Rodeo, Austin, TX

April 2009


Selina’s Birthday

May


Celebrating Sae’s law school graduation

June 2009


Cindy and me at Grand Lux Cafe in Houston

July


Brandi and me on Fourth of July

August

  • The first two weeks of August, I tried to squeeze in as much time as I can with Alan because he was about to leave for Korea for up to 4.5 months.
  • Starting, August 16, I started counting days Alan was gone.
  • Kim came to visit the weekend of the 22nd and we saw Wicked.
  • I saw 500 Days of Summer three times this month, in theatre, of course. This is the first movie I’ve done that.
  • Jon visited from NYC.
  • I got a part-time, part-time (yes you read that right) job, thanks to Brittany dropping a good word for me.


Alan’s last night out with friends before going to Korea.

September

October

November


Having hot chocolate at Ren Fest.

December


After party in the car.

I’m a blessed girl. Instinctively, I’d tell you my 2009 was pretty awful but when I write it all out like this and focused on the good rather than the bad, I can see now I’m still quite lucky. Farewell, 2009.

Tell me how your year went. Or better yet, if you have a year in review entry, I’d love to read yours.

Hai Ky Cafe

December 29th, 2009 · · Austin, new thing(s) of the week, savory 4 comments - Tags: , , , ,

2000 Guadalupe St
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 480-0057

Last week, campus was pretty dead with all the students gone in between semesters. I had a slower day at work and my usual convenient lunch of Wendy’s was unavailable due to their closing down in between semesters. I yelped around for something within walking distance and decided on Hai Ky Cafe. I’ve been to Hai Ky in a rundown shopping center on Oltorf several years ago and I believe this is their swankier version nestled on Guadalupe (dubbed the “Drag” by Austinites). I had walked by it when eating at Tap House the day before.


Inside Hai Ky. There is also tables along a long cooridoor not pictured that looks pretty cozy and intimate.

When I enter a Vietnamese pho restaurant, I rarely get anything else but pho. I just always crave pho over the rice plates or vermicelli bowls in general when at a Vietnamese pho place. That aside, I haven’t had a vermicelli bowl in over ten years. The last one I had I don’t think I was even in high school yet and it was my mom’s. I don’t eat a lot of fresh vegetables or salads, and I prefer my meals warm and not cold/room temperature. Vermicelli bowls are chopped grilled meat and or chopped egg rolls tossed in cool vermicelli noodles and lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumbers, and carrots. (My mom used to chop up mint leaves in hers.) It’s very much like a salad, and as someone who does not usually crave salad, I just don’t bother with vermicelli bowls.

After a long stint of eating unhealthy foods with no color (save brown), I usually start craving veggies just to detox my system a little bit. It’s kind of like a halfass measly reboot of my diet. So for the first time in over ten years, I had a Vietnamese vermicelli bowl. I had mine with chopped egg rolls and it surprised me that it hit the spot! I will admit it has wet my appetite for this traditional dish a bit that maybe I won’t wait another ten years to have another one.


This is the prettiest vermicelli bowl, I’ve ever seen. (Though I’m not a big VB eater, I’ve seen my fair share as it’s a popular thing to order at pho restaurants). That dipping sauce is an essential part of the dish.


Mix it all up and dive in!

It was quite fresh, light, and tasty. Priced at $6.50, it’s pretty economical lunch. I must say $6.50 is about how much Hai Ky charges for a bowl of pho too. It’s a little steep in terms of Austin pricing for pho but when you factor in convenience for the UT student or staff member, that’s not bad. Maybe next time I’ll try it.

More truffles from Teuscher

December 24th, 2009 · · Austin, holidays, savory No comments - Tags: , ,


409 W 2nd St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 236-1657
www.teuscheraustin.com

As I mentioned in my entry about my first visit to Teuscher, I’ve been meaning to go back to Teuscher to try their speciality that is champagne truffles. Angus, the owner stumbled on my blog entry not too long ago and reminded me I needed to go back and try these truffles (they didn’t have them the first time I went). So during today’s hustle and bustle of trying to get all the Christmas shopping done before my night time job, I thought I could squeeze in an hour with Ms. Jen from Philly. She’s in town for 2 weeks and I had a little stocking to give her. I dragged her along to my second trip to Teuscher.

It was a little humid so I opted for a iced mocha. The espresso had me flying and jittery (I skipped breakfast and lunch because of errands and traffic.) Jennifer ordered a hot chocolate because it was a little chilly inside.



I suspect Tom gave Jennifer’s hot chocolate a heart but we’ll never know. She sipped before noticing.


Inside: 2 dark champagne truffles, 1 almond truffle, and 1 Bailey’s truffle.


The truffles were delectable. I’d reorder all three kinds again. Jennifer liked that the champagne truffle wasn’t too liquidy. I think I found a place in Austin to frequent when I want to indulge in chocolates.


I love Jennifer. She’s one of my dearest friends and is never here in Texas long enough! Here she is showing off her cute, festive, Threadless shirt.


Well, I’ll be driving to Houston today (I haven’t gone to bed yet!). I won’t have a steady Internet connection in Houston but plan on scheduling a few entries while I’m gone.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Tap House: Reunited and it Feels so Good

December 23rd, 2009 · · Austin, memory, savory, the grind 2 comments - Tags: , , , ,

1906 Guadalupe St
Austin, TX 78705

(512) 482-9880

One thing I’m enjoying as I’m acclimating to my new job at UT is relearning the campus and rediscovering old beloved haunts. One such place is Tapioca House, affectionately or lazily? dubbed “Tap House” as heard from most of my college friends and acquaintances. I’m delighted that they’re still open! It’s been over 4 years since I’ve had their food and over two years since I had their pearl drinks (kind of, I went to the Houston location over 2 years ago).

Tapioca House is first and foremost, a bubble tea/pearl drink place. It’s been 2 doors down from another longstanding pearl drink place called Coco’s. Now these recent years past, I go to Coco’s the North location to get my bubble tea because I could not be bothered to drive to campus. But before I graduated, Tapioca House was many a college student’s preference over Coco’s for some very obvious reasons.

1. Tap House has punch cards allowing you to earn a free drink after every 10 punches or so.

2. Coco’s and Tap House both served a handful of Taiwanese food. Both very good. What gave Tap House the edge with college students is the meal combos! You can get your bubble tea drink and for an additional two or three dollars, you get an authentic Taiwanese meal! Very economical for the broke college student.

So I was walking around the deserted campus on Monday and was going to try a new banh mi restaurant called “Bite Mi” (get it?) but much to my dismay, like a handful of eateries, Bite Mi is closed for the holidays. I guess with all the students gone for the holidays, some restaurants don’t find it worthwhile to stay open. It was no bother as I just walked a few doors over and I was reunited with Tap House!

I ordered one of my rotating usuals, a coconut milk tea. I made it a lunch combo and ordered their curried chicken. Now Tap House is all about product and doesn’t care too much for packaging. Decor is absent, design (if you can call it design) is only practical. You don’t come here for frills. One said frills is plates! Everything comes out in your own takeout box, regardless of whether you eat in or out.

True to my memories, the boxed meals still come with a side of sauteed bean sprouts and a soy sauce braised egg (We have these in Vietnamese cuisine too). Yum. As you can see, I like to douse most of my food with anything red and spicy. It was good and tasted like decent basic curry. I think I most enjoy just all the memories that were triggered from eating here. It was a quiet and peaceful lunch. I sat by the window and watched the very few people still on campus walk by.

Galaxy Cafe

December 22nd, 2009 · · Austin, savory, silver screen No comments - Tags: , ,

4700 West Guadalupe
Austin, TX 78751

(512) 323-9494
www.galaxycafeaustin.com

Friday night, Alan, his friend, and I were going to see Avatar in IMAX (it is really worth it to see this movie in IMAX; you get the ulimate experience). Alan was craving a burger and we wanted to eat somewhere close to the Bob Bullock Museum, where the IMAX is. So we chose Galaxy Cafe. All three of us had been here once before and it was our second time. Alan and I went for lunch once and the place was jam-packed. The atmosphere reminds me of a trendy cafeteria. The set up is easy, upon walking in there are menus for you to grab near the door and up near the cashier. You order and then they take it out to you. I could have gone for a burger too myself, but I was too lazy to wash my hands so I ordered their bow tie pasta with shrimp. It comes with either a salad or soup.


The Mexican lime soup reminds me of this traditional Vietnamese sour soup. It has the same tangy sour broth and tomatoes in the broth. The Vietnamese soup has catfish in it. Yum! Galaxy Cafe’s Mexican soup is tasty and light. The server who brought it out told me it was one of their most popular soups.


The bow tie pasta was tossed in a lemon cilantro butter. Lemon cilantro butter won me over when I was trying to decide what to order. I ordered mine with shrimp. Very comforting, very filling. I think I can make this.


Inside Galaxy. Not as crowded as lunch hour.

Terra Burger: Naughty 11pm Decision

December 22nd, 2009 · · new thing(s) of the week, savory, the grind, the not so single life 4 comments - Tags: ,

10611 Research Blvd
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 382-5864
www.terraburgeraustin.com

Alan texted me while I was at my night job tonight asking where the spaghetti was. I told him I threw it out and feeling nice, I offered to pick up something on my way home. He wanted to try out Terra Burgers. Neither of us have had it. It’s an all organic burger joint. I’m pretty indifferent to the organic movement. I know Alan prefers it so sometimes I cook with organic ingredients when I cook for us, but really, I don’t care.

So my goal was to only buy him a burger and at most take a bite of Alan’s. I had dinner at work with bags (2) of chips and pudding and wasn’t hungry. I almost succeeded in ordering just for him. “I want a Thousand Island Burger with fries, please…………….um make that two Thousand Island Burgers.” Dangit. It’s the lure of a new place. I like to try new eats, dammit. It’s impossible to ask me to order something for someone else at a new place and not expect me to get in on the action.

My bed time is midnight which gives me 6 hours of sleep a night on weeknights. It was 10:30pm when I ordered that burger. Bad! I have a New Year’s dress that has very little no room to grow in. I was counseled by a friend only to eat HALF of the burger and no fries. So on the way to Alan’s, I told myself that I’ll only eat half a burger and bring it for lunch tomorrow.


I failed.


I REALLY failed.

Well, here’s the review of Terra Burgers, written with a guilty conscience.

I prefer my Mighty Fine over Terra. At Terra Burger, all burgers are 1/3 lb and they’re 5.99 for just the burger. I’m guessing you’re paying for it being organic. Meh, it didn’t taste like a 5.99 burger to me. The fries were crumbly. Maybe it was my ordering at 10:30pm when they close at 11pm but the girl at the window told me I’m waiting a while because everything is being cooked as ordered. So, maybe they’re just crumbly or she just bullshitted me.

I like a little more seasoning in my burger or maybe a tiny bit more grease. Some more taste. I’m left wanting! Hard to believe with how much of it I ate, I know. The beef patty was so thick it was hard on my lockjaw. (BTW, I have a constant persistent case of lock jaw. The HORROR!)

Alan on the other hand enjoyed it. He think it’s pretty good for how healthy it is. I think he’ll be going back.

Anyway, it’s past my bedtime. Good night!

Annual Big Brothers and Big Sisters Christmas Party

December 14th, 2009 · · Austin, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America, holidays, videos No comments - Tags: , ,

Yesterday, I hung out with my little and her family at the Big Brothers Big Sister’s Annual Christmas Party. It was a lot of fun. I’m a little jealous of her big family. :)


My little with some of her family members


I ran into a friend/high school classmate at the party. I forgot to call her to see if she was coming but it worked out anyway. My little said you can see the “whole world” behind us.

My little debuts her new dance move in the video below.

Salt Lick

December 13th, 2009 · · Austin, savory, still-frames No comments - Tags: , , , ,

3350 Palm Valley Blvd
Round Rock, TX 78665

(512) 386-1044
saltlickbbq.com

Salt Lick, one of Austin’s pride and joy, has been in my life since 2003ish. It’s our claim to fame when it comes to barbecue (we’re lucky to have a few famed places) and has made a handful of appearances on food and travel channels. I’m happy to find that they’ve opened a Round Rock location which is a bit closer to me than the beloved original way way down South. It appears that this new location has a full bar which means it’s not BYOB like the original so that’s a wee downer. It does have the same feel and food though! You’d think that’ll be the case but they had a 360 location that kind of failed in terms of ambiance (it was long before the 360 location closed.) Oh, and it also takes credit cards, something the Driftwood/original location has never done.

In celebration of his graduation, Bing’s parents treated us to delicious food at the new location last weekend. Of course, you know I had my camera.




Speaking of famed BBQ places, I need to go get ready for the annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Chrismas party held at another famed BBQ place, County Line!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

Reunion at Blue Dahlia Bistro

December 2nd, 2009 · · Austin, memory, new thing(s) of the week, savory, still-frames 4 comments - Tags: , , , ,

1115 E 11th St
Austin, TX 78702

(512) 542-9542
http://www.bluedahliabistro.com/

I love the holidays because it tends to bring old faraway friends back home. On my way drive back to Austin from Houston, feeling incredibly full from Hugo’s reunion with Kim, I get a text message from my Solemate, Kym. She’s going to be in Austin for just a few hours, will I be free? Kym, Dave and I were INSEPARABLE summer of 2005. That was when our friendship budded and it was a fast friendship. Every day during summer session, the three of us would look at each other after class and ask, “What are we doing today?” Giggling manically while scheming. So Sunday, literally 30 minutes after my 3 hour drive, Kym and I managed to pull Dave away from the library doing work to have a proper reunion.

Dave took us to Blue Dahlia, his favorite affordable romantic date place. A French restaurant especially picked to honor Kym’s Parisian roots.

Dave hadn’t had dinner yet so he ordered the egg salad. It came with capers which he picked off and Kym and I picked up. Kym already had dinner and as I said, I was full from Hugo’s, so we opted to order two desserts to share. (It’s a wonder I still fit in my clothes! I haven’t even showed you all of what I’ve eaten over the weekend!) We order bread pudding and the triple chocolate mousse.

I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Especially the desserts. I’d come back here next time I want to have a cozy place to nibble desserts and chat. I think we turned heads with all the giggling we did. Enjoy the photos.


Dessert Menu!


I’d order the bread pudding again!


Triple Chocolate Mousse


Egg Salad


Did I tell you the three of us actually have a motto?


I stole this picture from Kym’s facebook.

P.S. I started my new job today! They take 3:00 coffee breaks together. How cute is that?

10 More Things I’m Currently Thankful for

November 25th, 2009 · · Austin, holidays, Houston, lists, love, memory, on the nightstand, Personal Finance, pursuit of happiness, the grind, the not so single life, wanderlust 5 comments - Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Before I head home to Houston, I’m going to squeeze in a third Gratitude list.

If you missed the first two here they are:

- 10 Things I’m Currently Thankful for
- 10 More Things I’m Currently Thankful for


Another 10 More Things I’m Currently Thankful for

  1. A full time job! As I mentioned once or twice before, I landed a job and will be working at my Alma Mater. I start next Tuesday.

    I went to the lab to talk about the job offer last week and as I was hanging out I saw one of my old professors. It’s kind of a funny thing to see professors after you graduate and be inundated with academic memories. Some not so good ones! I had to suppress an urge to shrink away. Anyway, I digress. I gots a full time gig after not having a full time gig since June.

  2. Reunions over Thanksgiving! I have a handful of friends I haven’t seen in months and I get to see some of them in Houston this weekend for Thanksgiving. Although, it’s going to be challenging to time budget between friends and family in just 3 days, I think it’s not too shabby of a problem to have.
  3. My car.


    My first baby.


    My baby Civic

    I bought my car summer of 2007 after getting in a car accident. Ever try to imagine your life without your car? I wouldn’t be able to get to work (my current part time position is 45 minutes away by car.) I wouldn’t be able to drive to Houston to visit. No fun trips to restaurants, etc. Austin isn’t a pedestrian city. My car makes it possible for me to play, work, and explore. Yay car!

    I’m also grateful I didn’t play around and paid off my 5 year car loan in 1.5 years. This made the last 5 months of unemployment easier without having an extra 200 dollars a month to expense for a car payment.

  4. My Washer/Dryer. I remember the days of hauling my laundry to the laundromat and setting aside hours at a time to get laundry done. I’ve filled up COUNTLESS journal pages people watching as I think it’s extra interesting to see what people wash. Heehee. I haven’t had to use a laundromat for years now. I had a roommate 2007 with a washer/dryer. In 2008, Miss Jamie let Alan and I borrow her washer and dryer and we helped her “store” it. When I moved to my own place last year, I thought I’d forgo fun purchases and spend almost a thousand on a set. It was money well spent. There’s freedom in owning your own washer dryer.
  5. Trip to San Fran and Boston! I’m incredibly lucky to be able to travel a little bit this year considering my stint with unemployment.

    I took a trip to San Fran with Alan right before putting in my notice at my previous full time position. It was kind of a celebration of a new beginning for me and was also the first trip Alan and I took together. San Fran is one of my favorite cities now. I was also extremely blessed to have such a loving BFF/FFB who gifted me her flight miles to go see her in Boston. I hadn’t seen her in Boston for a few years and it was good timing for us. I can’t wait to go back to see her new house! :)

    I’m always thankful for any kind of travel I’m able to swing.

  6. Those who read what I write. I’m thankful for my regular readers (mostly friends and boyfriend). I’m thankful for the comments you take the time to write and just over all taking the time to read my humble little blog. I’m thankful for the mentions you make when we chat, for the followers, and the subscribers. I’m thankful for you!
  7. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. I’m thankful for great memories and hard lessons from my past. I’m thankful for the photos and the journals that help me not to forget.

    I’m thankful for today and being alive. I’m thankful for the possibilities that lie in the future and my capacity to dream and plan.

  8. Friends.

    It would take me all day to name them all by name but I’m thankful for them all. I come from a small isolated family. We hardly have any extended family. My friends are my extended family. They want the best for me and are my cheerleaders in life. I’m forever thankful.

  9. Living in Austin. Did you know this year we hold the accolade of least stressful city in the US? I love living in Austin. I love how pretty it is with the lakes and hills. I love the events hosted by us. I love our downtown area. It’s a wonderful, fun, smart, and young city.
  10. Books

    I cannot wait to own my own place and have my library set up! Books and bookstores are foolproof sources of comfort for me. I grew up around a lot of books so they conjure up a feeling of youthful awe. I also grew up seeing my dad with a book EVERY NIGHT, and every moment he had free and anything that reminds me of my dad also releases a lot of dopamine in my noggin. All the positive memory associations aside, books nourish me. They’ve molded my philosophies in life, provided understanding, clarity, education, inspiration… the list goes on. I love books. I’m thankful I’m in a country that limits censorship and that my parents raise me to value and appreciate the written word.