Like a Fine Wine...

Looking for something to do this Memorial Day Weekend? (or to entertain the fam during UT's graduation weekend...this is personally applicable to me and my soon to be Texas-Ex sister, Allyson) You may want to hit up the 2009 Austin Wine Festival at The Domain from May 23-25 (Saturday-Monday). Remember (or how could you forget??) you probably have Monday off of work/school, and what better way to spend it than by drinking vino and supporting Texas Hill Country wineries in the Texas sun!

According to http://www.texaswinefestival.com/, "Designated as the #2 Fastest Growing Wine Destination in the Nation, second only to Napa (Orbitz Insider Index) and the #1 of the best "Places to Go This Summer" (The New York Times), the Austin Wine Festival (AWF) is the place to be and be seen."

The festival is $20/day pass for a glass and a wrist band that will get you 10 tastings, or 2 full glasses of wine. Additional wines by the glass can be purchased separately. Music and wine seminars will also be sprinkled throughout the day. The exact time for these events is TBD. The information below is provided on http://www.austinwinefestival.com/schedule.html.

Regular Festival Hours:
Saturday, May 23: 1:00 - 10:30
Sunday, May 24: 1:00 - 9:00
Monday, May 25: 1:00 - 6:00

Winery Wine Service:
Saturday, May 23: 1:00 - 7:30
Sunday, May 24: 1:00 - 8:30
Monday, May 25: 1:00 - 5:30

Memorial Day Weekend Wine Recommendation: 2009 Austin Wine Festival at The Domain (May 23-25)

Poll: Entertaining at Home

Thanks to all who voted in the poll about entertaining at home. I'm excited that many of you (66% of poll responders) are interested in my entertainment ideas to help you when inviting guests over for a good time.

For those of you who think it's too expensive, or you don't have enough space, this is something that can easily be fixed! I'll try to give tips for inexpensive home entertainment, such as:

• Ask each guest to bring one contribution, so it doesn't all fall on you, or make a dent in your wallet
• Host your event for a non-main-course meal, such as drinks and appetizers, or dessert

and tips for space-saving entertainment, such as:

• Help a friend co-host if they have more space at their place
• Plan an event at a nearby park, at an apartment complex pool where you or a guest live if the weather is nice

The bottom line is, you don't need a lot of space or $$ to have a good time! Stay tuned for more easy entertaining tips!

What do cows do on Saturday nights? They like to rent moooooovies!

There's nothing like a good rental movie, a bowl of popcorn, and relaxing on the couch in comfy clothes when you're feeling like a chill night of classic home entertainment.

Newest top movie releases out today include:

• Slumdog Millionaire- This movie won 8 Oscars, so if you haven't seen it, see if you can get your hands on a rental copy to check it out. "A Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers." (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/)
• Seven Pounds- Starring Will Smith and Rosario Dawson: "An IRS agent with a fateful secret embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers." (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814314/)
• Marley & Me- Starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, is a story about how "A family learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog." (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822832/).

Recommended Online Movie/TV Resource: IMDb (Internet Movie Database), is a great place to get all of your movie/TV news, including new rental releases, nightly TV lineups, trailers, top movie rankings, movies coming soon, and award winners.

The Veronicas are Coming!

I knew it. I called it months ago...The Veronicas were gonna make it big. I found out today they are coming to the 96.7 Kiss FM Bobby Bones 2nd Chance Prom, with Lady Gaga, and we are going! Let me know if you want to join in on dressing up like it's prom on Wednesday, May 6th, and hitting up the concert! I already have 1 taker...

I wrote about these Australian pop twins on my 2nd day blogging and one of my favorite fun songs, "Untouched." Check it out and you might just love them too!

"What's your flava...tell me what's your flava"

*Photo from designld.com

When it comes to flavor and good taste, whether with botanical design, or creative s'mores, La-Dee-Dah and Treat know how to do it right. This weekend, I was entertaining Jason, a special family friend, during his first trip to the ATX. It was undebatable that we had to show him the quirky Austin trailors, with a stop at Torchy's Tacos at the South Austin Trailor Park & Eatery on S. 1st. As we were waiting for our tacos, I stepped inside the La-Dee-Dah trailor that I had heard so much about. Inside, I was surprised to find such unique botanical creations by Lauren Dolinksy of LD Design Studio made of succulents, colorful rocks, and even branches arranged in such a way that I was drawn to them, admiring every detail. (For those of you who aren't familiar, succulents are plants that retain water, and are therefore eco-friendly, which makes these fall under my Green Entertaining Rebeccamendation category). After talking to the expert working there, I learned that these are "plants for people who kill plants," meaning, they require very little water, mostly misting every few days, and that the only risk is too much watering, not too little. I immediately thought this "botanical couture" (as described on the designld.com website) would be a unique gift for a housewarming party, or really a gift for any occasion, where these living works of art could serve as a conversation-starter centerpiece, or a piece of art to decorate a living space and catch the eye of visiting guests. La-Dee-Dah also houses hand-made headbands, home accessories, cards, gifts, and even "Chai Ya'll" and "Chai Fidelity" specially-designed American Apparel t-shirts.

I also learned that Treat, the flavored "designer" s'mores station at the end of the trailor will be relocating to it's very own airstream trailor home at the South Austin Trailor Park & Eatery near the 2nd week of April. I can't wait to try this spin on the classic outdoor dessert, with flavored marshmallows that range from Raspberry, to Chocomint, to Lavender Lemon. There is even a private campfire for roasting if you visit this tasty trailor.

Entertaining Decor Recommendation: Botanical art by Lauren (LD Design Studio) at La-Dee-Dah

Dessert Entertainment Activity any time: Treat's flavored marshmallow s'mores at the new airstream trailor coming soon this April.

Breakfast Taco/Lunch Recommendation: Torchy's Tacos at the S. Austin Trailor & Eatery, S. 1st.

Opa! Greek Salad Skewers!

*Photos by Rebecca
I saw this recipe for "Skewered Greek Salad," or as I call it, "Greek Salad Skewers," in Self magazine, that was originally taken from Giada DeLaurentis on Giada at Home on the Food Network. I remembered seeing it and thinking it would be an easy and fun appetizer idea, so I looked it up to make it for a dinner I was invited to that was held last night. Although I made about 35 skewers, only 10 were left, so I'm pretty sure they were crowd-pleasers. And, I was a fan, so I'm Rebeccammending it to you as an appetizer idea, and for green entertaining since it's a no-bake recipe, and the bamboo skewers are environmentally friendly!

Ingredients:

• 2 packages of Grape Tomatos


• 1 package of Feta Cheese (block, not crumbled, so you can cube it)


• Bamboo or wood skewers (I found mine in the fish department at Whole Foods--just ask a WF employee)


• PITTED kalamata or black olives (it's a little tough to find pitted kalamata olives, but that would be difficult to put on a skewer :))


• Fresh oregano (can be found in produce section of grocery store)


• 2 Cucumbers
  
• 2 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar


• 4 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil


• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

1. Slice cucumbers into 1/2 inch-thick rounds, then quarter them.


2. Cube the feta cheese block into 1/4-1/2-inch cubes (thick enough to slide onto the skewer)


3. String a tomato, a cucumber piece, a feta cube, an olive, and another tomato onto a skewer


4. Repeat for as many skewers as desired.


5. In a small bowl, whisk together Red Wine Vinegar, Olive Oil, and lemon juice for the dressing


6. Pull the oregano leaves off of the stem, and dice into small pieces, adding to the dressing mixture


7. Place the skewers on a plate (if serving as a separate salad course at a small dinner gathering, or on a large serving platter if for a large party).


8. Drizzle dressing over the skewers.


9. Serve, pick up a skewer and enjoy!
   

*Note: Be cautious when transporting the serving platter to your destination, if not at your house. The dressing could spill off the plate, so wrap tightly in saran wrap.

It's not sweet-ish, it's just sweet!

I am eating Sweetish Hill Bakery and Cafe's unforgettable, crave-licious, tuna sandwhich as we speak (and I don't even want to put it down to write this, but for the sake of enhancing your life, I'll put off my next bite a few minutes), and it is just as fresh, and magnetic as always. If you're a tuna person, you HAVE to try it. I like it on their fresh-baked-daily wheat bread, with a firm, but soft crust embellished with sesame seeds to enhance the flavor. Sweetish Hill has been an Austin tradition for 30 years, and is still going strong! The main location is on W. 6th, but there is a hidden back door to their smaller location in the Baker Botts building on Cesar Chavez, that I frequent on days when I run out of fresh groceries and can get out of the office to take a bite into this delicacy. Something about the off-the-beaten path small location makes me feel like I know about an Austin best-kept secret...but now you have the key! Their motto is "Taste Buds Remember," and after having this once, my taste buds have never forgotten, and always find their way back to Sweetish Hill.

Protein and flavor-packed lunch recommendation: Sweetish Hill Bakery & Cafe, specifically their tuna sandwich!

Malverde/La Condesa Part I

*Photos by Rebecca

In Spanish, Malverde would literally translate to "bad green", but I thought Malverde, the new Mexican-inspired 2nd-story 2nd Street District bar, radiated with vibrant shades of green, from the turquoise-colored stairs leading up to the venue, to the fresh mint leaves kept handy at the bar for custom-made mojitos, to the limes that adorned and flavored every glass handed out to the happy hour-ers. I had been anxiously waiting to try out La Condesa, the new Mexican art and food-inspired dining spot on 2nd Street that sits just below Malverde. Allison gave me the opportunity to try it out at one of the Art + Style events in the 2nd Street District leading up to Art Week Austin (April 22-26), and I jumped on it (even though I got rained on in the process!). This is part 1 of a posting about the restaurant, because I just got to sample some of the savory tacos on their menu (even served to me by the chef himself, and the brother of the artist that produced the eclectic pieces on the walls), but will write about a full meal and experience when I return!

Spring/Summer Bar Recommendation: Malverde on 2nd Street. Fresh drinks, with watermelon, lime, fresh mint, and even rose petals that adorn your refreshment. The woody, open feel, with the downtown view makes this perfect for a spring or summer happy hour location. Head downstairs to La Condesa for dinner after to experience the feel of the La Condesa district of Mexico!

Even though I got rained on as I was heading home, I looked up and saw a rainbow..maybe a sign that I found a winner! (or a much-needed reminder that just when things seem gloomy, there is hope!)

Follower Poll: Blog Topics of Interest

Since this blog is only about 1 week old, I've asked my first loyal followers to provide feedback on what they are interested in. I'll keep the polls coming so I can continue to blog about things you want to read about, and hopefully try!

Topics by Percentage of Interest

• 77% Restaurants
• 55% Music
• 44% Recipes/Ideas for Home Entertaining
• 33% Local Activities/Specials by Day
• 33% Travel Tourist Attractions in Other Cities
  
  So, what am I gonna do about it?? I'll try to give you restaurant ideas in the context of entertaining and what occasions they would be most appropriate for. But, the focus of the blog is still all kinds of entertaining, and is not intended to be based on restaurant critiques, though I can point you in the direction of some fabulous ones for that purpose!
  
  For music recommendations, I'll keep my eyes and ears out open for new artists, songs, and upcoming music events I think you would find interesting. I'm glad my followers are excited about music, because this will help me explore and discover new music as well :)
  
  Recipes...well I love them, and I'll continue to use this blog as a way to share them with you and how you can use them for entertaining! Please comment on them if you try them or have suggestions/feedback, so I can improve recipe rebeccammendations!
  
  Stay tuned for more enteraining fun, and thanks for voting!