The Heart of Austin

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Thank you so much for reading our blog at HeartofAustin.com! The West Austin Properties Team loves sharing information with you, and we will continue to share events, real estate news, stories and more at our new site www.WestAustinMarketplace.com. This new site will feature video blogs, as well as our traditional written blogs, enabling us to better inform you of what is going on in and around Austin, Texas! We can't wait to see you there and encourage you to leave comments and questions!

www.WestAustinMarketplace.com

Eeyore's Birthday Party turns "Oh, bother" into "Oh, boy!"

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday tooo youuu, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to EEYORE!! Happy Birthday TO YOU!

Well, Austinites, it's that time of the year again....Eeyore's 47th Annual Birthday Party!! Don't worry this won't be a pity party, but a grand celebration! There will be live music in Pease Park from noon to seven this Saturday the 24th of April. Musical guests Graham Wilkinson and the Underground Township, Mystic Moot and Tavana will be there to jam out until the sun goes down. The party begins at 11AM so grab some hot or cold food (vegetarian included), and wash it down with a coke, juice, spring water or even a Texas beer! 

Admission is free and all food/drink/activity proceeds will benefit non-profit groups in Austin. There will be games for children of all ages, as well as face painting and temporary tattoos. Musicians are also invited and encouraged to play their instruments. Come sing, eat, drink, play, and dance around the Maypoles at the party of the year! Costume contest is included with a chance to win some amazing prizes (gift certificates to Threadgills, Huts, and Frank and Angie's Pizzeria--YUM). Don't have a costume? Feel free to body-paint yourself and a friend and join in on the huge drum circle!

Also joining Eeyore with birthdays this month is West Austin Properties' own Laura Duggan and Austin country star Willie Nelson, both on April 30th! A grand happy birthday to you all! Let the celebration begin!

Submitted by Katy Duggan

West Austin Properties, REALTOR, Buyer's Agent

Contact me today to look at homes! 512-826-4316 or Katy@WestAustin.com

The Mighty Texas Dog Walk is Mightier Than Ever!

     Calling all pooches, big and small, we need YOU to bring the Guinness World Record for "Largest Dog Walk" back to Texas! How? Simply round all the pups you know and attend Austin's 12th Annual Mighty Texas Dog Walk this Saturday, April 17th, at 9 A.M. It will take over 10,272 dogs to beat Britain's record, but I think we can do it! 

     The 3 mile stroll starts at the 1st street bridge and takes you through beautiful downtown Austin. There will be plenty of dog watching and vendors en-route with amazing products and services for every dog to enjoy! Let's show the rest of the country and the world why Austin, Texas is ranked in the top five cities for pets!

All proceeds benefit Texas Hearing and Service Dogs. For more information and to register check out the service dogs website. Each dog is $30 when you register the day of and $25 if you register early. Don't miss out on the chance to be part of this World Record breaking event! Can't wait to see you there!  

TOP 5 PET FRIENDLIEST CITIES

Based on rankings among six different top 5 lists published by “Forbes,” “Dog Fancy,” AAA, “Men’s Health,” DogFriendly.com, and the Humane Society of the United States, WebVet.com recommends the following five cities as America’s pet friendliest:

1. Portland, Ore. (listed four times; ranked No. 2 twice)
2. Seattle, Wash. (listed three times; ranked No. 2 once)
3. Albuquerque, N.M. (listed three times; ranked No. 3 twice)
4. Austin, Texas (listed three times; ranked No. 3 once)
5. TIE: San Francisco and San Diego, Calif. (each listed twice; each ranked No. 1 once

Race Around Austin at the Capitol 10K

Fellow Austin race enthusiasts, join me and the rest of the West Austin Properties team for one of my personal favorite Austin traditions, the Statesman Capitol 10,000! This Sunday, April 11, is the 33rd anniversary of the largest 10K in Texas, and the fifth largest in the country. Whether you are a competitive runner or simply want to be a part of the action, grab your tennis shoes and join over 18,000 people to support Meals on Wheels and More in this 6.2-mile loop around Austin.

Entertaining to say the least, the eccentric participants of the Capitol 10K embody our city’s motto to “Keep Austin Weird.” H-E-B will be sponsoring a Mad Hatter station where you can create fun hats using a H-E-B bag as your canvas or feel free to transform yourself into a bag monster! 

Late registration begins today so head on over to the North Austin Event Center (formerly the Crockett Center) located at 10601 North Lamar Blvd. to pick up your packet and register. Can't wait to see you there!

Following the Capitol 10K, join us for our open house at 1102 Heritage Way in Central Austin by O'Henry Middle School. The National Association of Realtors has designated this weekend as National Open House Weekend, and West Austin Properties is excited to participate by holding open a house not yet on the market! We suggest you stop by before it's gone! 

This is also the last opportunity to take advantage of the $8,000 Federal Tax Credit. To qualify for the tax credit, the home must be under contract by April 30th and close before June 30th. Call us today at West Austin Properties to take advantage of these low rates, low prices, and stimulating government tax credit. 

Submitted by Katy Duggan, Buyer Specialist

West Austin Properties

512-826-4316 or Katy@WestAustin.com 

   

Austin Events – December

December has begun with what is as much Winter as we typically see in a year—cold and wet. There is plenty to this holiday season in Austin.

UT Football is going into the post-season with a perfect record. UT will be facing a strong Nebraska team in the Big 12 Championship on their way to the National Championship in the Rose Bowl.

December 5th, UT v. Nebraska, 7pm. Kickoff in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium

The UT basketball team has started their season off. Check the website for upcoming games, there will be about 5 home games in December.

For more information, visit www.TexasSports.com.

On Friday, December 4th, the McDonald’s Lights of Love 5K will take place at the Mueller Development. The race is in support of the Ronald McDonald house. For more information, visit http://budurl.com/McDs5K.

 

Ballet Austin’s 47th production of The Nutcracker will take place at The Long Center. It is the longest running performance of The Nutcracker in Texas. The Austin Symphony accompanies the Ballet and depending on the night, you will see one of Austin’s local celebrities playing the role of Mother Ginger.

The Nutcracker will take place beginning December 5th – 23rd. For more information, visit http://www.balletaustin.org/atb/nutcracker.php.     

 December 11^th- 24^th, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is a great place to get a lot of your Christmas shopping done. Combination shopping venue and music festival this Austin tradition is over three decades old. For more information, visit http://www.armadillobazaar.com/.

 

Zilker Park Trail of Lights is one of the best family events of the season. It starts with the tree lighting on Sunday, December 6^th, at 6pm. The tree stands 155 feet tall and contains over 3,300 lights.

The next event is the Zilker Tree Holiday Fun Run that will take place Saturday, December 12^th, at 6:30pm through the trail of lights and Zilker Park.

The Trail of Lights will be closed with a grand finale on December 21st, 8:30 pm - Asleep at the Wheel & Friends Holiday Sing-a-Long.

For more information about the Zilker Park Trail of Lights, visit http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/tol/.  

  

The Annual Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll will begin at the steps of The Capitol on Saturday, December 5^th at 6pm. The event begins with a group sing-along featuring John Aielli. At 7pm the countdown to the tree lightning begins. Shops and restaurants will be open late for the event. For more information, visit http://downtownaustin.com/holidays/?rewrite=holidays&query=.

 
 

The last major event every year in Austin is First Night Austin. This takes place on New Year’s Eve in the streets of Downtown. The event is a family-friendly alternative to traditional celebrations is in its fifth year. For more information, visit http://www.firstnightaustin.org/.

What are you doing this month that we should know about?

Patrick Birdsong is a Realtor with West Austin Properties. He is a second generation Realtor with over 7 years of experience in the Austin Real Estate Market. He can be reached at (512) 345-1252 or via email at patrick@westaustin.com. Follow him on twitter: @patrickbirdsong

An Austin - Dallas – Norman Tradition – Red River Rivalry Weekend!

Pack your bags and get on the road with your burnt orange or crimson and cream, because it is Red River Rivalry time at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas!

Formerly known as the Red River Shootout, this annual football game is one of the greatest rivalries in college football. The Red River itself lies along the Texas-Oklahoma border; representing a dividing line between two states and two states of mind. 

This year’s game will be the 104^th meeting of the two teams and will determine the future of the Texas Longhorn’s National Championship hopes. The Oklahoma Sooners come into the game plagued by injury, youthfulness and two heavy loses. Their goal for the Sooners is to salvage what is left of their season. A win against Texas might be their saving grace.

This blog post is not an analysis of the match up or a prediction of the results. It is a celebration of the tradition. Both schools represent the pinnacle of public school education. Just visit the websites for each school (www.utexas.edu and www.ou.edu) and you will get a feel for how hard hitting both schools are academically.

The Cotton Bowl, in which the game is played, is more storied than the rivalry itself. Visit their website to view the history of the stadium, http://www.attcottonbowl.com/stadium/, and you will be awakened by the spirit of the game of football.

The beauty of the game is that it is always on neutral territory. The stadium sits almost exactly 3 hours from both Universities. Come mid-afternoon today, I-35 Northbound out of Austin and I-35 Southbound out of Norman will be clogged with fans making the trek to Dallas. Checkout the map below for a better idea of how ideal the location really is.

View Red River Rivalry in a larger map

Upon arrival in Dallas awaits the largest State fair in the United States. The Texas State Fair surrounds the stadium and to gain entrance to the game you must pass through roller coaster rides and vendors serving up a plethora of fried concoctions. To learn more about the State Fair of Texas, visit www.bigtex.com.   

 

If you are traveling to the game this weekend, please drive safely. We will see you there!

Patrick Birdsong, West Austin Properties, (512) 345-1252, patrick@westaustin.com.

Longhorn Baseball Team is Late Night Winner

Today, you can catch the best in college baseball as the University of Texas hosts the final day (let's hope!) of the Regional Tournament, the first stop on the "Road to Omaha" where teams vie for national honors in the College World Series. After a 25 inning game that lasted until 1:30 this morning, the Texas Longhorns prevailed over the Eagles of Boston College in a pitching standoff that treated the crowd to one of the best pitching and defensive performances in collegiate ball. Augie Garrido, the head coach for UT,called the pitching of reliever Austin Wood, the best and most courageous he had ever seen in over 40 years of coaching. It was an unbelievable outing for Woods who pitched 13 almost flawless innings in "relief" after Chance Ruffin pitched a great 7 innings. Austin Dicharry finished the game after 7 hours and 3 minutes, the longest game in NCAA history.

There were also some brilliant plays by Kevin Keyes who hit a two run homer and a double, Preston Clark who caught everything that even came close to 1st base and Brandon Belt who served as designated hitter just one day after leaving the first game of the series in an ambulance after getting hit in the head by an Army pitch.  The teamwork and team energy was splendid.

The stands were full of screaming Longhorn fans until the last out and the triumphant "Eyes of Texas" rang out in the night sky. Like a concert performance, each played their part; pitchers, players, coaches and the fans until the lights went out at Disch Faulk field.

You can catch the championship game tonight at 6:00 pm in Austin at the Disch. Come early, wear orange and cheer for a championship team, our Texas Longhorns!

Posted by Laura Duggan, West Austin Properties, May 31st, 2009.

10 Things I Love About April in Austin

 You are no April fool if you want to spend April in Austin. There are an abundance of festivals, food and wine events, outdoor gardening symposiums and, of course, more music!

1.  The weather is just about perfect and the bluebonnets, our state flower, paint hillsides and roadways blue along with a bouquet of other Texas native wildflowers. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has their Spring Plant Sale and Gardening Festival along with workshops about growing native plants and conservation, a sculpture event and Earth Day activities. April 11-12

2.  Austinities love their dogs and a challenge of any kind! Dog walking is at its best with the Mighty Texas Dog Walk, a fundraiser where dog owners compete for the Guinness World Record for most dogs walked.  Dogs of all shapes and sizes, along with their owners, compete to raise money for service dogs in the Austin area. Walk til your dogs bark for a good cause!  April 11

3.  Easter in Austin is always special from the sunrise service at St. Luke's on the Lake at Lake Travis to the flowering of the cross at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Tarrytown. When we were little girls we took Daddy's finest flowers to the service and stuck them in the appropriate sized holes on the wooden crosses. After service, the crosses were placed on the Church grounds to herald He had risen! Did I mention that my grandparents were founding members of Good Shepherd?  April 12th

4.  Music festivals celebrate Spring all over the area. Take in the Old Settler's Music Festival on any of the four days that you can camp out and enjoy bluegrass, roots and American bands out by the Salt Lick in Driftwood.  If reggae is more your thing, chekc out the Austin Reggae Festival on the shores of Lady Bird Lake and help raise 12 tons of food for the Capital Area Food Bank. The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival features events showcasing 100 restaurants and 60 wineries in their four day festival, a traditional passage to Spring. April 16-19th

5.  The Umlauf Gardens are some of the prettiest in Austin and celebrate the sculpture of Charles Umlauf in a natural setting close to Zilker Park.  Enjoy it all while strolling through the gardens sipping a glass of wine and enjoying tasty noches and music at the annual fundraiser, the Umlauf Garden Party.  April 23 

6.  Poetry is a staple in Austin, from the international poetry slams to private poetry readings;  Austinites are poets.  The Austin International Poetry Festival is the largest nonjuried poetry festival in the world!  For four days, in many venues, you can hear poetry of all kinds from locals and international participants alike. It will amaze you!  April 23-26

7.  Barton Springs Pool comes alive with visitors sunbathing on the hillside and dipping into the spring-fed waters of Austin's most famous swimming hole. Kids chase pigeons and ride the train around Zilker Park and everyone loves to worship the sun as spring melts into summer! Every day in April

8.  One of the funniest events in April is the Dragon Boat Festival and Race. Yes, it is nutty because Austinites build their 40 foot watercraft, decorate them like dragoss and race them on Lady Bird Lake's Festival Beach. Others get into the act too! It is not to be missed!  April 25th

9.  Take in the works of over 200 professional artists selected from applicants from all over the country as they showcase their art at Art City Austin. There is always lots of local music, food and fun. Bring your sunscreen!  April 25th

10.  April is birthday month!  Yes, Willie Nelson, Eeyore and I all share the same birthday on April 30th. This year Willie and I will be celebrating privately, but everyone can attend Eeyore's birthday at the Austin traditional party in Pease Park. Come dressed for the party in costume and celebrate Eeyore's 46th! April 25th

The Austin housing market is heating up and all things real estate seem to be seasonally normal. As always, if you know someone who wants to buy or sell a home, please let me know! Referrals are the heart of our business.

Submitted by Laura Duggan, West Austin Properties, Austin, Texas on April 9, 2009. Visit our website at www.westaustin.com to find your next home!

 

Family Christmas on the San Antonio Riverwalk

San Antonio is one of those unique cities in the United States made popular by its rich Texas history with the Battle at the Alamo, the Spanish missions, and the River Walk that winds through downtown punctuated by restaurants, bars, galleries, and hotels. At Christmas time, the River Walk turns into a fantasy land. The little river boats that carry tourists through the maze of shops and eateries are piloted by river guides wearing Santa hats as they steer their boats past native Indians playing carols on their wind chimes, a Hispanic Santa on his Christmas throne and beneath the towering cypress trees with mulit-colored lights hanging like stars from their branches. Luminares, white sacks filled with sand to anchor them from the wind and a little candle lit inside, line the river guiding the way for the Holy Family . School and church choirs sometimes fill the boats and serenade diners and tourists along the route with carols and pagentry. The Posada, or procession, is a special Mexican celebration along the River in early December that marks the search of Joseph and Mary for shelter. This is a real special treat for those lucky enough to see it.

This weekend our family and some friends made our traditional hour and a half trek south to San Antonio to wander through the Mexican market, take in the delights of the River Walk and eat our fill of Mexican food at Mi Tierra Cafe and Bakery where we enjoyed the mariachis singing, "Feliz Navidad" and oggled the ornate decorations and the array of baked goodies. The Mexican nachos with beef and guacamole were the biggest hit, followed by the authentic chile con queso and traditional tamales. They have fantastic margaritas too, but this was a family day, and we still had to drive back to Austin. Brad and I have been coming here for more than 30 years to fill ourselves with these Mexican dishes and see the Christmas decorations of old. Open since 1941, they used to have tableside juke boxes, and the garland and Christmas lights would stay up year round. We always left with a sack full of traditional Mexican cookies to munch on the way back to Austin. This time, we ate too much and the counter was too crowded to buy them so we left the calories behind. Colorful pinatas lined the ceiling and Mexican vendors peddled their goods from Mexico in the Mexican market next door. Children were dancing on stage, a photographer was selling his photos and a wood carver was making toys in the promenade. It was so festive!

We made our way downtown to the River Center Mall, one of two places along the river where you can embark, where we boarded one of the little riverboats to tour the river. Unlike the arctic chill covering most of the country, the weather was mild and the day inviting for our adventure. Our guide pointed out all of the famous old buildings and we marveled at the amazing and well-preserved architecture of them, some over 100 years old. Christmas lights and decorations added to the enjoyment as we wound our way through the city enjoying waterfalls, winter hardy perennials, mosaics, and statuary. Ice cream at Marble Slab finished our day (and our calorie count!) as we left the Alamo City once again for our short journey back to Austin. It was truly a memorable day, and one of our family's holiday traditions!

Posted by: Laura Duggan, West Austin Properties, December, 22, 2009

Waiting for Hurricane Ike and Remembering Dean

All of my family lives on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Most of the time going to the beach meant relaxation and joy. We've spent many happy times there with our families. But now, my sister, Ellen, and her family have boarded up their house in Jamaica Beach, loaded all of their important "stuff" in the car along with their dogs, Kwila and Bosco, and made the seemingly endless trek up Hwy. 45 off of Galveston Island hoping for the best. Ellen's daughter and our precious niece, April, told her mom that what they were leaving behind was really not important. It was only "stuff" and only life really matters. Bless her and bless them. I can't imagine leaving everything behind knowing that there is a good chance that they will sustain heavy damage and potentially lose everything that they have worked their entire lives to provide for their family.

Only a year ago, we feared the approach of Hurricane Dean in mid-August. Mother lived with our beloved step dad, Svad, in the farming community of Portland, Texas just north of Corpus Christi. Svad had spent the previous couple of years nursing my increasingly ill mother through emphysema even though she continued to swear that it was only asthma. She had been been referred to hospice a few weeks before and was gasping for air and really miserable. Her doctor mandated oxygen, but it dried her throat and she resisted it. Mother was confined to a hospital bed in their Portland home and had 24 hour nursing care and the love and devotion of the hospice nurses there as she weakened. News of Hurricane Dean coming into the Gulf sent us scurrying for transportation arrangements to Austin. Brad found an ambulance service in Georgetown that arranged to travel to Portland, pick her up and deliver her to her home in Austin. Knowing that she might want to return here someday, we had left it as she left it, fully furnished and ready for visits.

Two days before Hurricane Dean hit the coastline, the ambulance backed into the driveway at her Austin address. Her sweet smiling face and a happy, childlike wave greeted us through the back window. What a blessing to see her back here at her home.  They wheeled her in and delivered her to the hospital bed we had waiting thanks to Vista Hospice who had arranged everything with a day's notice. The first day, Ellen and I sat on the end of her bed talking to her, sorting through old pictures and her college scrapbook and laughing with her as we remembered special times together. She was able to talk and share our love and laughter. The next day, a few friends arrived to see their dear friend, talk and reminisce. Mother was a good bit weaker, but her eyes were bright and her smile indicated the joy she felt in seeing these precious chums. That day, the hurricane came and went and mom's energy waned. It was time to say good bye. Our family encircled her, reassured her of our love and the love that she was about to experience, and we prayed for her peace. She closed her eyes, drew her last breath, and then she was gone. As much as we had feared Hurricane Dean and dreaded the destruction he would cause, we will always be grateful for the blessing that had brought our mother home.

God Bless all of our friends and family that are facing the perils of Hurricane Ike. Their will no doubt be great loss, but let there also be peace, hope and love in these challenges.