AQUA Water Towers

There is something about the smiling water towers that no matter how bad your day has been, they can cheer you up.  Feel free to submit your AQUA water tower pics to Jon.Danklefs@gmail.com.

Utopia in Elgin

We've been dining at Utopia since it opened last year.  The food is always good, from the homemade hamburgers to the Utopia roll, which is a mix of beef, chicken and shrimp rolled up in bacon bathed in a sweet and sour sauce.

Basically, Utopia serves a mix of American, seafood, and Asian-influenced chicken, pork, beef and shrimp selections.  Everything on the menu is MSG-free.  I think they have the freshest salad bar in Bastrop County.  Period.  Sam, the owner, also has a full service bar which is separate from the dining area.

Tonight we had the Utopia roll and a Teryaki sandwich. 

So, the next time you are in Elgin and want something other than BBQ, drop into Utopia (on 290 in the shopping center behind the Dairy Queen).

Manor Downs on its last legs

Unfortunately, live horse racing in the Austin area may be coming to an end.

Manor Downs on its last legs

Sad news out of Austin...

This place, along with El Arroyo and Baby A's, was one of my "Big Three" while going to school in Austin. I hope I have a chance to drop in before the last enchiladas are served. It will be missed...

Another Austin icon cashes in its chips, hot sauce

Solar farm proposed for Pflugerville area

Solar farm proposed for Pflugerville area

Your Mom's Burger Bar

Had lunch at Your Mom's Burger Bar.  It is East of 35, right off of Cesar Chavez.  I had no idea their burgers were stuffed with tasty goodness until I had my first bite.  For the first timers, if you don't see the cheese on your Norma Jean, it doesn't mean it isn't there.

Seating is first come, first served, but we were able snag a couple of chairs before the burgers arrived.

Recycling East of Austin

Since we moved East of Austin, we've taken our paper products to Recycling Options off of Hwy 95.  Unfortunately and unkown to me, they closed last month leaving me with a truck full of cardboard and paper.  So, it left me thinking, since we do not have curbside recycling in our neighborhood, what other options are out there?

Here's what I've come up with so far.  If you know of others, feel free to email me at jon.danklefs@gmail.com.

Metal and aluminum can recycling in Elgin.  Open mostly 9-5, they are located near S. Main and E. Brenham behind the Curves Fitness.

Outside of Bastrop, Lonestar Disposal offers recycling drop-off.  For metal, there's also Bastrop Metal Recycling near Hwy 71 and FM 1209.

For electronics, you can call ēcoGrün.  Their price list for waste pick up is here.  Also, Best Buy has a free kiosk, just inside the door, for you to drop off inkjet cartridges, rechargeable batteries, CDs/DVDs, and gift cards.

For additional recycling locations in Lee County, please visit here.