Sydney: Culinary Adventures

Victor Churchill

Emilia-Romagna: Parma a Modena

Emilia-Romagna: Cremona a Parma

Weekend in ABQ

We spent the weekend in Albuquerque, NM with my family, meeting up between Texas and California as they were passing through to camp in Colorado.  We took in the sites, hiked Sandia Peak, and enjoyed some fantastic Mexican food.  It was scorching hot of course, but we had a good time anyway.  Favorite new discovery to beat the heat: Paleteria Michoacana de Paquime, a Mexican ice cream shop with two dozen Mexican flavors of candy-colored popsicles, among other treats.  Favorite view: top of Sandia Peak Tram as a thunderstorm moved in at sunset.
  

Sandia Peak Tram

Albuquerque Botanical Gardens

Amazing Local Bakery

Favorite Discovery: Paleteria Michoacana de Paquime

Marble Brewery: Round of Tasters of their local brews

Last BBQ Feast: Rudy's BBQ

I picked up Rudy's BBQ up on Jollyville Road and brought it back to the house for a last BBQ feast.  When I was leaving I realized they had built a little shed around a oak tree, which I thought was pretty cool.  But back to the BBQ, extra moist brisket and jalapeno sausage with the usual sides.  So good.  I really like Rudy's but it's not my favorite BBQ place.  That honor probably goes to Snow's in Lexington, but since you can only get Snow's on Saturday mornings and it's an hour and half drive from Austin, I don't get it very often and when there are so many places that are so good in town, it's not always worth planning your travel around a Snow's expedition.  Maybe next time.

Bluebonnets and Alfajores

If you've never had alfajores, I'm sorry.  While exploring the music scene east of the I-10 we passed the Buenos Aires Cafe, where I stopped in for some alfajores maizenas.  They are amazing!  I need to learn how to make these.  A block down we saw some bluebonnets peaking out of someone's garden. The wildflowers are out in full bloom along roadsides and bluebonnets are having a good year.  On the way back to downtown, we stopped back at Buenos Aires for dinner and a pitcher of sangria.  Life's tough in Austin.

The Last Fall and La Condesa

Photo from Austin lifestyle blog Austin ModHouse

Wednesday morning I went to the Stateside Theatre to check out The Last Fall, the directorial debut of former NFL wide receiver turned filmmaker Matt Cherry.  It's a semi-autobiographical story of an NFL player who is dropped from his team and facing retirement at 25. From there, on to La Condesa on 2nd and Guadalupe for some lunch.  It was decent, liked their take on the margarita.

Tchoupitoulas and Tacos

After Monsieur Lazhar, I hustled down to the Violet Crown for a shorts program, but ended up checking out Bill Ross and Turner Ross' Tchoupitoulas at its Buzz screening.  It's part of the Emerging Visions section.  It was definitely experiential and informal, but I'm glad I went.  Then grabbed some Korean BBQ pork tacos from Chilantro on Congress between 2nd and 3rd.  They were okay, standard truck fare. 

Monday afternoon: Sno Cones and Brooklyn Castle

Chilling with my bro eating sno-cones from Sno Beach after watching Kate Dellamaggiore's Brooklyn Castle at the Alamo Lamar.  Loved it.  Review later.

County Line BBQ and Alamo Village Screening

Our second screening was at the Alamo Drafthouse Village theater, so I arranged for everyone to come up to the County Line restaurant on the Lake for some BBQ and margaritas on the dock.  Some of our crew even joined us by boat.  Delicious BBQ and bread, we have been going to this restaurant for family dinners since I was a little girl.  Then we shuttled the team over to the theater for another showing and Q&A.  Another great day in Austin, TX.

Filmmaker Lunch

At Troublemaker studios. 

Catetered by Franklin BBQ.  Back in Texas!