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.

More July 4th Festivities East of Austin

Yesterday's post had information on events going on in Elgin and Bastrop this weekend, including fireworks displays in both cities.

Here's information on other fireworks displays going on this weekend East of Austin.  If you know any more which should be added to the list, feel free to contact me at jon.danklefs@gmail.com.

Giddings:

Lockhart:  Annual event held in the City Park.

Round Top:  Annual Round Top 4th of July Parade & Celebration Festivities begin at 10am on the Town Square with parade at 10:30 followed by meal, cold beverages, music and other activities and Round Top Rifle Assn Hall.

Taylor:  Downtown parade at Main & 4th

Smithville:

Webberville:

July 4th Weekend Events East of Austin

From the City of Elgin website:

July 3, 2010 / Chalk It Up: Children’s Sidewalk Art Contest: The Elgin Parks and Community Development Department sponsors a free children’s sidewalk art contest each July at Veterans’ Memorial Park. Chalk It Up is a program for children ages 3-12. Youth are asked to participate as individuals or in groups (groups are two to four youth.). The event is free. Judges will determine winners based on creativity, use of space, color and imagination. A thirty-minute time limit will be placed on all entries once the event begins. The theme is “Celebrating Freedom in the USA”. Certificates will be awarded to winners in the following age groups:(3-5 yr. olds), (6-8 yr. olds) and (9-12 yr. olds). For more information http://www.elginpard.com/.


July 4, 2010 / Elgin People’s Patriotic Fourth of July Parade: Push, Pedal, Pull and Pets is the theme of the annual parade and celebration held each year on the Fourth of July. It is a fun event for children, pets, adults, seniors and veterans. Everyone is invited to walk down historic Main Street from City Hall to the Veterans’ Memorial Park for a celebration of our nations’ freedom. All non-motorized entries are accepted. Food and fun follow the parade with a short program and a Soap Box Derby exhibition by the local Cub Scouts. For more information on this event, contact the Elgin Parks and Communtiy Development Department at 512-281-5724 or visit http://www.elginpard.com/.


July 4, 2010 / Elgin’s July 4th Celebration and Fireworks: Second annual Family Friendly Party and Fireworks display sponsored by Southside Market & Barbeque and Frontier Bank of Texas. Event to be held on Southside’s property at the corner of Hwy 290 and Hwy 95 N. from 6:30pm – 10:00pm. Attractions include FIREWORKS, Live music, Texas Military Display, Face Painters, Magicians, Food and More. Southside and Frontier are also extending an invitation to Elgin area youth groups to do fundraising at the event, click here for registration registration information. For more information on this event, contact Southside at 512-281-4650 or email them at sausage@southsidemarket.com

And in Bastrop:

I'll post more information on other fireworks shows in the area later.