The Souvenir Menu: Widows of Champagne houses
About a year ago the term ‘veuve’ (said approximately – “voov”) came up in a French class. It means widow. I thought of the champagne Veuve Cliquot (“klee-coh”) and the connection seemed strange–Why would a widow be in the name of a wine that is universally associated with celebration? Upon research, it turns out that [...]
Bad officiating, not great matches, overshadow 2010 World Cup
Depending on which country you have been cheering for, during the last two weeks of the FIFA World Cup, the officiating has been horrendous or it has been just fine. The World Cup has had their outstanding matches. However, those matches have an overcast of terrible officiating from the official crews that work these games. [...]
Tips for lowering your home energy bill
There are small adjustments homeowners can make in their homes and everyday lifestyles to lower energy bills this summer. Save 1-2% on usage by replacing air conditioner filters monthly to help the air systems run longer. Save 2% on energy usage by checking for leaky doors and windows; they should be weather-striped, sealed, and caulked. [...]
Brace Yourself, Bernardo is More than Just a Simple Campesino
I have been reading historical novels lately. It hasn’t been intentional, as I did not organize my reading shelf in this manner, and it’s not my usual habit. Whether it’s been by chance, by destiny, or by unconscious will, whatever one may want to call it, I’ve been completely engulfed by historical fiction and truly [...]
Austin Celebrates World Refugee Day
Austin residents are invited to join in the celebration of the United Nations World Refugee Day at the Bob Bullock State History Museum, 1800 N Congress Ave, this Saturday to learn more about the international refugee community in Austin. This year’s celebration coincides with the 30th Anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, landmark legislation [...]
The Souvenir Menu: Authentic German at the Walburg Restaurant
I tend to eat a lot of different things each week; Thai, Japanese, Indian, Burgers, BBQ, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, etc., but sometimes I like a little variety. We have a couple of good Persian places and even an Ethiopian restaurant in town, but what we lack in Austin is a dedicated place for good German [...]
What a difference four years can make for some World Cup countries
The scene four years ago was Italy’s captain, Fabino Cannavaro, lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy as Italy defeated France in the finals. The Italian nation celebrated its fourth World Cup title. In the third place game, host country Germany defeated Portugal to finish third. Even England had a nice run in the 2006 World [...]
Texas keeps the Big 12 alive, thanks to the money
On Tuesday, June 15, the landscape of college football was about to change forever. The University of Texas was to lead three other teams from the Big-12 conference to the Pac-10. They would join fellow Big-12 team, Colorado, to form the first “super” conference in college athletics. This new conference would set a domino effect [...]
Big Brother & Little Brother Austinites Revisit White House
Austin attorney and Big Brother mentor Ben De Leon and his little brother for five years, Anthony Saldana, have been invited to attend an event on mentoring at the White House on Monday, June 21, 2010. This is not the first time the pair has been invited to meet with President Obama. After winning the [...]
Where to watch the World Cup around Austin
When it comes to sports events, this is not Austin’s first rodeo. A city that has made it to the BCS championship twice in the last five years is not new to hosting large numbers of sports fans eager to find a big screen to watch the game. However, with the World Cup games being [...]
