AustinPixels

Swift’s Attic, Austin

AustinPixels — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:42:00 +0000

I have visited Swift’s Attic on three different occasions and each time I noticed some aesthetic detail that further solidified my opinion that this one of Austin’s top restaurants. The ambiance coupled with their
ahhhh-mazing food is enough to send anyone into a temporary state of bliss.

I could go on-and-on-and-on but I think the best way to tell you about Swift’s Attic is to show you.

Diver scallop tiradito, cucumber, aji amarillo

Sunchoke, fennel, farm egg, pistou

Chocolate six ways

Flat Creek Estate Winery

AustinPixels — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:46:41 +0000

Flat Creek Estate Winery will always have a special place in my heart. I first visited the winery in 2004 with my then girlfriend, and now wife. It was the first Texas winery we ever visited and it sparked an appreciation for Texas wine that even inspired us to have a Texas wine themed wedding. I can still remember driving up to the winery unsure if I was in the right place, even with what seemed like grape vines in the distance. As we approached the small tasting room we were greeted by a bright eyed and tail wagging dog, which I now know was Tropper.

The winery has grown since then. The old tasting room is now called Troopers Den and hosts smaller private tastings. The main tasting room is now in a two story building with a large patio right outside. Adjacent to the patio is a bistro and just beyond that is a pavilion flanked by grape vines on two sides.

Outside of Texas, when you mention Texas wine you will likely get mixed reactions. People are used to their Napa Vally and Walla Walla wines and don’t really picture good wines being produced in Texas. The Texas Hill Country Winery’s have come into their own the past few years and Flat Creek is no exception winning several gold and silver medals in recent competitions.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

AustinPixels — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:25:42 +0000

I recently made a trip to Fort Worth and had some time to stop by the Rarh & Sons Brewing Company for one of their Saturday tastings and brewery tour. $10 will get you a pint glass, three beers and the tour which usually begins at 1 P.M. The tastings are very popular but there is plenty of space in the brewery to accommodate.

This Saturday also had a host of food vendors and live music in the main room. Located on the south-side of town it sits, like most breweries, in an inconspicuous warehouse. The staff has an obvious pride in their beer and all seem to have a smile while they pour a pint of what they consider one of the best beers around.

UT Longhorns Women’s Basketball 2011

AustinPixels — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:26:34 +0000

A video montage of regular season photos I took for Horns Illustrated during the 2011 UT Women’s Basketball season.

Ranger Creek .36 Bourbon Whiskey

AustinPixels — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:20:43 +0000

The folks at Ranger Creek have made a name for themselves as exceptional craft beer brewers deep in the heart of Texas and are now proving that good bourbon whiskey doesn’t have to come from Kentucky. While their straight bourbon is still in its maturation process they have released the small barrel version, .36 Texas Bourbon Whiskey. Even though this is not a traditional aging method it is giving customers a chance to taste the Texas bourbon now.

As a bourbon fan I can attest to the .36 being very high quality. It is smooth and perfect to enjoy on the rocks or as a Manhattan. They have chosen to use Texas ingredients to try and produce a flavor unique to the region, not just trying to replicate bourbon from Kentucky.

The .36 is the same bourbon that is currently aging in the full size barrels and after tasting it I can’t wait until the straight bourbon hits store shelves.

These were fun photos to take, with the best part being drinking the bourbon when I was done!

Strawberry Photo Setup

AustinPixels — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:17:09 +0000

I had a few inquires into last week’s photo so here is a setup photo. Light spill on the background was a issue so I came up with a crude gobo by zip tying the top of a cardboard box to the light stand.

SB600 left and right and a white bounce card on the table under to light the front of the spoon. ISO 200, f/16, 1/250. Strobes at 1/4 power.

Serengeti Resort Bergheim, TX

AustinPixels — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:26:32 +0000

Only an hour and a half outside of Austin in Bergheim you will find a small piece of the African plains tucked away in the Texas hill country. The Serengeti Resort is home to a variety animals and you get the chance to get up close and personal with them. They also have plenty of accommodations that can easily make this a weekend getaway.

In the spacious lodge they serve meals and have wine tastings. The dinner isn’t cheap but they did prepare a steak that could hold it’s own against any piece of meat a 5 star steakhouse could produce. During our stay there were two inches of rain that fell overnight but there is a pool, hot tub and a playground for the kiddos. I didn’t get a chance to look inside but they also offer tents that you can stay in to really get that safari feeling.

Wimberley Valley Winery

AustinPixels — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:46:07 +0000

Austin is very fortunate to have so many wineries within a few hours from downtown. The Wimberley Valley Winery is only about an hour drive Southwest from Austin. While the winery has been around since 1983 in April they opened their new tasting room. The building was previously the home for the large tanks and they did a great job on the new space. They have a large open field with miniature horses and donkeys right in front of the tasting room which are pretty friendly and enjoy a little scratch behind the ears.

Mac Attack

AustinPixels — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:28:49 +0000

A friend and Cisco coworker is fighting a particularly aggressive form of late-stage cancer. We are trying to raise money to off-set personal expenses and arrange a trip to NYC next week.

He is New Yorker through and through and his wife and daughter have never been to New York and it’s Mac’s greatest desire to travel there very soon to show “his girls”, his town and to gather with his extended family one more time.

Time is of the essence for Mac and if you are able to donate anything it would be greatly appreciated. We are holding a golf tournament to raise money next week in Cedar Park. All profit/proceeds from the event will go directly to Mac.

Golf Tournament details:
· Event is scheduled for 12/6 at Twin Creeks Country Club in Cedar Park
· Shotgun start at ~11:30AM. Please arrive at 11:00
· Cost is $125 per golfer
· You can sponsor a hole for $500.00
· We will have Mulligans for sale at $80.00 a team
· The event will be catered by the club
· Bar is on premise (sorry, no open bar)

Link to more details and to donate here
http://tinyurl.com/macbits

The Hangar Hotel

AustinPixels — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:55:51 +0000

As a former air traffic controller I have a love for airports. Pre 9/11 I used to take my scanner and tune into ATC frequencies while parked near the airport to watch and listen as the areal orchestration takes place. It probably wouldn’t even take 20 minutes for the police to show up these days. The Hangar Hotel in Fredericksburg gives you the opportunity to get as close as possible to the Gillespie County Airport without actually getting in a plane and taking off.

The hotel is themed after a WWII airport hanger and is full of memorabilia giving you a feeling that you are back in the 1940′s. Each room has a candle in the window and a note on the bed from the OIC. There is an Officers’ Club with a fireplace, full bar, pool table and a grand piano. This is a perfect place to spend the evening after spending some time on the observation deck watching airplanes.

If you are an aviation enthusiast or just looking for a unique experience The Hangar Hotel is a must.