Anyone like Cuban cuisine? Mambo House is a relatively new restaurant in Round Rock that serves up some yummy Cuban food. Tonight’s dinner consisted of fried plantains, empanadas, Chuletas a la Parilla (grilled pork chops, yellow rice and caramelized onions), and tres leches. Everything was perfect, and I will be sure to return again soon.
ANY = Austin’s New Year. The city threw a pretty cool party this evening at Auditorium Shores. There were bands (including two of my favorite Austin bands – Vallejo and the Flying Balalaika Brothers), art, decorated bicycles, food trucks, and nice views of downtown. Thanks for the party Austin. We will see you next year. 🙂
My favorite jazz bar was open for Christmas Night, so I stepped into the basement bar and enjoyed some great music. The best part of the evening was when they had a tap dancer on stage to tap away during one of the jazz tunes. The main performer, Alex Coke, was in town from Amsterdam and he played the flute, bass flute, and soprano sax. A very fun night!
Here is the Christmas Tree at the Texas State Capitol in all its beauty. The current Austin nighttime temperature is a perfect 64 degrees (however, not so perfect for snowmen as it turns out).
Another beautiful night! I took a walk around downtown Round Rock and took several photos of the Christmas Tree. It is looking pretty amazing this year.
Lucky for me, Chuy’s stays open late and they are also big fans of Elvis. Tonight’s dinner was the Macho Burrito special, “A flour tortilla stuffed with roasted pork, green chiles, jack cheese & guacamole, smothered with Hatch Green Chile Tomatillo Sauce”. Yummy.
Yes, I had to return to this most awesome Christmas display again this year. There was Elfvis, the Grinch (doing the Nae Nae), the Kringles, Olaf (leading a “Let it Go” sing-along), a house full of synchronized lights, and the Snow Zone that blasted out fake snow for all the kids. If you are in the Austin area, go check it out. If not, then you can experience the YouTube channel as the next best thing to being there.
Thanks to the Red Bull Music Academy for hosting several DJs and bands tonight. The event was fun, and Empire Control Room is a venue that reminds me of old Austin. No frills, outdoor stages, and a super relaxed atmosphere that just allows the party to flow as it needs to.
My second stop in search of Christmas cheer tonight was at the Four Seasons Hotel, where they have a gingerbread village on display. It has the theme of a western town, everything is edible, and it raises money for a local charity. The gingerbread man above is a little scruffy because he has just emerged from the town Saloon.
I was downtown for an event this evening, and I decided to wander off for a bit in search of Christmas cheer. The Christmas tree at the Driskill Hotel was beautiful as always.
earthrobert 