Ruby Tequila's dares you to take the fajita challenge

I'm always look for the best so when I heard a rumer that the best fajitas in Houston were located at the newest Midtown Mex-Tex restaurant, Ruby Tequila's Mexican Kitchen, I had to check them out.

"Our fajitas are the best in the city," said Ruby Tequila's president Cory Strickland. "In fact, if you try them and don't agree, they're FREE."

Now I bet that has your attention.

BEEF, CHICKEN AND SUNSET?
It definitely got my attention so I had to go check them out - not that I'm a fajita connoisseur or anything, but I do know a thing or two about food having written for a food trade magazine for six years. Besides, I've been eating all my life.

Ruby Tequila's is opening officially on October 12 in Midtown and the venue has three types of fajitas: Fajitas al Carbon, Shrimp Fajitas and something called a Sunset Fajita, which is like your basic chicken or beef fajita but smothered with their special homemade queso inferno.

But before we even get to the fajitas, let me tell you what impressed me most about Ruby's is that everything is fresh...really fresh. I checked out their kitchen and they don't even have a microwave or warming station, which means every order is made to order. It also means, you're not going to get rubbery quesadillas, dried out tamales or crunchy old Mexican-style rice.

"Everything is made from scratch," said Strickland. "We don't buy anything pre-prepared. We chop up all the peppers, tomatoes and onions in the kitchen, we create our marinade for the meat, and we are cooking and prepping all day long."

I checked out the cooking stations and he wasn't exaggerating. Everything was made the old fashioned way and they don't fry their meat; they actually have a mesquite oven in the kitchen so everything has an authentic smoky flavor.

"All our meat is certified Angus beef that we trim and cut in-house," Strickland said, as he showed me the actual wood they use in the oven.

I even checked out their giant cooler and there weren't bottles of processed salad dressing or jars of pre-made salsa. It even kind of smelled good in there. And if you don't believe me, you can check it out yourself.

"We have an open kitchen policy. Any customer who wants to see the kitchen is welcome to come back for a tour," said Strickland. "The pico de gallo, guacamole, sauces, salsas, tortillas and beans are made throughout the day to ensure consistent freshness on every plate. At the end of each day, any leftovers are discarded. Nothing is reheated, frozen or saved for the next day."

In fact, the made-fresh concept is carried right out to the tables as they will make your guacamole dip right in front of you to your own level of spiciness and chunkiness. In other words, you're not going to get some just-add-water powder version.

THE RITAS TO GO WITH THE FAJITAS
While the food is good, the margaritas are outstanding and according to the bartender, what makes them so good is that they are made from real ingredients.

"We don't use a mix. They are made with premium tequila, Grand Marnier, Patron and freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice," said the bartender.

Their signature margarita is their Supreme Rita. It's your choice of tequila (I got Tres Generaciones), Grand Marnier, Patron Citronge and a little lime juice for $7.99. An extra shot is only $1.00.

The bartender also recommended their Pineapple Fusion Rita.

"That one is my favorite. It's pineapple infused sauza tequila, vanilla bean and Grand Marnier," said the bartender.

SO ARE YOU UP FOR THE FAJITA CHALLENGE?
So DO they the best fajitas in town? Give them a try at one of their two locations and let me know.

You'll find Ruby Tequila's Mexican Kitchen in Willowbrook at FM 1960 and Highway 249 and in Midtown located at 2616 Louisiana at McGowen.

Oh, and they have a Happy Hour. Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and all day Wednesday, they serve $0.99 draft beer and $1.99 house margaritas.

"Our Wednesday Happy Hour turns the middle of the week into a Friday," said Strickland.

Hmmm...weekend thinking on a Wednesday. Gotta love that.

Whisky Wednesday's at the Manor

There's nothing like listening to the smooth vocals of Frank Sinatra in the comfort of a casual lounge to help chase away the stress of the week.

So when I learned that The Manor on Washington was having their first "Whisky Wednesday" complete with cigars, a special drink menu and music from the Rat Pack, I had to find out more.

"Whisky has always been kind of a tradition with the Rat Pack and Frank Sinatra, so we wanted to bring some of that tradition to the Manor," said Rae Millican, who does PR for the venue.

However, if you think this is going to be some sort of whisky drunk fest, you'll be disappointed. "Whisky Wednesdays" at the Manor are actually quite cool because what they've done is take the concept of traditional wine and food pairing and tweaked it to whisky and cigars.
Yes...you heard me - it's a cigar and whisky pairing.

"There will be five types of cigars ranging from $8.00 to $20.00, and based on what cigar the person picks, we'll pair it up with a whisky or scotch," Millican said.

Millican says they have researched the cigars and brought in a number of whiskys and scotches to make the night unique. In fact, they will even have a special menu that ranges from the basics like Jack Daniels and Crown Royal to top shelf brands.

WHISKY HAPPY HOUR AND A LITTLE SECRET

Now I know "Whisky Wednesday" is already sounding pretty good and I admit they had me hooked when they told me about the pairings, but it gets even better -- and I'm not even a smoker.

From 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. there is a happy hour with discounts on Jack Daniels and Jim Beam. And of course, there is no cover to get in.
"You just show up and have a good time," Millican said.
Wednesday, September 30, is their first "Whisky Wednesday" which is when I went, but don't worry if you can't make it. They plan on doing this every Wednesday.

But for those of you who are true cigar and whisky connoisseurs (or maybe you're like me and just would like to be), Millican let me in on a little secret.

"Two weeks from now, we are bringing in a specialist to do a whisky flight."
Now that sounds like a night that would make the Rat Pack happy.
LOCATION:
In case you haven't been yet, the Manor is located at 4819 Washington (Washington and Sheppard).

Love Guinness? It's time to unite on Arthur's Day

I've never had Guinness. I know you're shocked, but for some reason an opportunity to drink the dark stout has never come up.

But that all may change this Thursday when 5,000 pubs and bars across the United States will host celebrations to toast the world's most iconic stout --whoohoo!

That's right. On September 24, Guinness lovers everywhere will toast 250 years of brewing tradition started by one remarkable man: Arthur Guinness.



The global celebration known as Arthur's Day marks the 250th anniversary of Arthur Guinness signing the 9,000-year lease on the famous St. James's Gate brewery in Dublin in 1759.

The commemoration of this milestone will begin in Dublin and spread westward throughout the United States and across the world.

But what I'm sure you want to know is...just who is celebrating it in Houston.

I know I did. So I called over a dozen pubs and bars in the area, and surprisingly, very few of them even knew it was going on (yeah...I know. How can you call yourself an Irish pub and not know about this?).

Anyways, I did find two that were getting ready to raise a glass in honor of Arthur:

1) The Bull and Bear Tavern and Eatery @ 11980 Westheimer
- Guinness 250 on Draft for $2.50 all day on September 24
- Free Guinness stew and Irish brown bread at 7 p.m.

2) The Dubliner @ 4219 Washington Avenue
- Jamieson promotion at 10:30 p.m.

By the way, don't bother going to The Ginger Man if you feel like sampling Guinness 250. According to the hostess, they have been serving it all summer and are already sold out.

Turning the witching hour to happy hour

One of things I miss now that I'm working the night shift at KHOU-TV is that I never get to go to Happy Hour, especially because Houston has so many good ones.

I mean there's the $6 drinks at Benji's Lounge (and $5 appetizer menu), $2 longnecks and $4 pints at The Red Lion Pub, $1 sake and $2 sushi at Ra, and Sambuca downtown has $3 house wines and $4 martinis.

And don't even get me going on all the Mexican places that have Happy Hour Margaritas. It's paradise.


But when you work nights and get off on average around 12:30 a.m., Happy Hour quickly becomes a distant memory.

At least, that's what I thought until discovered that Max's Wine Dive does a reverse Happy Hour.

Don't get me wrong. They do a regular Happy Hour too and it begins at 1 p.m. on Friday for all you lucky people who work only half days in the summer.
But for late nighters like me, they do another Happy Hour during the last two hours of every night. So on Fridays and Saturdays, this is from midnight to 2 a.m.


HALF PRICE FOOD TO DIE FOR

I have to say their Happy Hour is not too shabby. All their full-size dishes are half price and many of the appetizers are half price too.


I went this week and got their Nacho Mama's Oysters for $4.50 and then got their award-winning and totally yummy Max & Cheese for another $4.50 to go (this is my favorite thing on the menu and makes a great lunch the next day).
You can also get ribs, buffalo sliders, calamari and more - all for less than $5.50 a dish.


The couple beside me got this incredible Pan Borracho for $5.50 which was out of this world.


If you don't know what this is, let me explain because I didn't know what it was either. When it came out, it looked like some sort of cheese casserole, but it's not that at all.


Instead, it's a sourdough baguette that's been soaked in white wine and seasoned with spices. Then they top it with cheese and procscuitto and bake it into yummy goodness. Man...it was so good, I may actually get it next time.


DON'T FORGET IT IS WINE DIVE

While I do love the food at Max's (so nice to be able to order something more than a burger and fries after midnight), I love the wine more.

The best part about Happy Hour (whether you go to the early one or the late one) is that many of their wines are also half price.

Sure you can get a cheap $4 glass of wine, but I like to take advantage of the deal and order the $30 glass of wine I normally wouldn't buy and savor it for the reduced $15 price. Of course, I'm a light drinker so one glass is basically my limit.

Besides, now that I don't get to go out as much, I'm finding it's all about quality.

It's bat season in Houston ---and not the Twilight type

It's time to put up the bat signal.

Not only are the baby bats at the Buffalo Bayou now fledglings, but this is the time of year you may see more bats in the area as many of them that migrated south have now returned back to Texas.

It's also bat maternity season (which comes after bat mating season).

BABY BATS MAKING CRASH LANDINGS

So what does bat maternity season really mean? Well, not much unless you are a bat, but if you see some bats on the ground, I'm told that they could be baby bats (called pups) who haven't yet mastered the art of flying.

But there could be another reason for falling bats. The mama bat actually carries her pups with her as she flies, but because of the extra weight, she may occasionally need to make a crash landing and rest.

Either way, these bats pups and mama bats may be totally healthy and will just get up go again.

Also, bats like to swoop down and grab a drink from standing water, such as a farm pond or a swimming pool --or even the bayou. So don't think they are attacking you, they are just looking for a drink -- because, man, it's hot in Houston.

JUST IN CASE...

You know I love my bat friends, but that doesn't mean I'm naïve. I know they can carry diseases including rabies. So here are the rules I got from the Texas Mosquito Control just in case you run into a bat (or a bat flies into you):

1) If a bat comes into contact with a person, either by flying into the person, landing on the person, or by being picked up or handled by the person, the person should try to capture the bat without further skin contact, so it can be tested for rabies.

2) Contact animal control or a veterinarian to have the bat tested.

3) Keep in mind, that there may be a cost to the person wanting the bat tested; however, it is worth the money, especially if the bat has had contact with a person or a pet - just in case.

4) If you can't find the bat, you should speak with a physician or health department about the incident to see if you could have been exposed to something the bat was carrying.

BATS THAT LOOK BUT DON'T TOUCH



The good news is if the bat just happens to be hanging out and doesn't actually touch you, there is no need to have it tested.

Let's say you find a "downed" bat or a bat in a building, all you need to do is release it outside (hopefully it will just fly out).

But if the bat happens to be resting, don't touch it with your bare hands. Wear gloves and simply cover the bat with a small box or empty coffee can and slide a stiff piece of cardboard underneath so the bat is trapped inside the box or can. Also, remember that a bat may look dead, but will come to life when disturbed.

Some bats need to be above the ground to take flight, so moving the bat to a tree will help the bat be on its way. While still wearing your gloves, you can remove the cover and place the box on its side in a tree.

The bat may immediately fly or crawl out of the box onto the branches, or it may not fly away until dark.

If the bat appears to be injured, contact animal control - but I'm not sure what they do with it. For a chance of having the bat fixed up and rehabilitated, call the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. They have information on state permitted wildlife rehabilitators.

LETTING THE BATS HANG WITH YOU - JUST FOR A WHILE

Now, I know that many of you don't like the idea of having bats in your attic and around your home. I'm like that with those big Texas roaches - they give me the willies.

But because it's maternity season, the baby bats won't be able to leave because they can't fly. What will happen if you evict them now is that the adult bats will get out, but the baby bats will be trapped inside - which totally sucks.

Bat exclusion is best carried out in early spring (before maternity season) or in the fall (after August) when the young bats are able to fly well.

NOW THE FUN BAT STUFF

Okay, now that I freaked you out with all the bat rules, it's time for bat lovers to have a little fun.

Diana Foss with Texas Parks and Wildlife gives free 20 minute bat presentations on the East side of the Waugh Street bridge at Allen Parkway on the first and third Friday and Saturday of the month.

By the way, even if you just want to go by yourself, this is the best place is see the bats when they fly out for their nightly excursions.

Below are the dates for the presentations:

Friday, July 3

Saturday, July 4

Friday, July 17

Saturday, July 18

Saturday, August 1

Friday, August 7

Saturday, August 15

Friday, August 21

Could you go bald for a good cause?

Not sure what to do on the weekend. Get a haircut!!

Actually, this event involves getting a little more than just a trim as you'll be shaving your entire head. But just think about how much cooler you'll feel in the Texas heat. Plus, you'll be doing it for a good cause.

Tesha M. Robaszkiewicz will be doing just that. She's a UH law student who is organizing a charity event to benefit kids' cancer research as part of St. Baldrick's.

"We've got about seven people, both men and women, already scheduled to get their head shaved for the cause," Tesha said. "I'll be one of them."

St. Baldrick's is the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. While they have hosted 2,300 events all over the world, they have never had one in Houston - until now.

Money is raised by having brave volunteers shave their heads in exchange for pledges. The funds are used for research as well as fellowships. In fact, one of the doctors who have gone through the fellowship is here in Houston.

But why got Tesha involved in the organization was because of something that happened to her personally. She says she had a family friend whose daughter was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor a few years ago. Sadly, the 5-year-old passed away.

"My dad did a fundraiser at the time to help raise money for the family, but I wanted to do something on a more broader level," said Tesha. "St. Baldrick's is a national charity and their goal is to stop cancer rather than treat everyone once they have it."

Tesha won't be the only woman going bald this summer. Her mother is also going under the razor to support the cause. But they are hoping more volunteers will step up to help raise money for the event.

"We are hoping to have about a 1000 people come out to the Union Bar and Lounge on Saturday. We are definitely on our way to raising more money, so that's a good thing," said Tesha.

Tesha's goal is to raise $3500 for St. Baldrick's.

If you want to show your support, drop by:

Union Bar and Lounge

June 13, 2009

12:00 P.M.

2708 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77006

To donate, visit: http://www.stbaldricks.org/about_us/news_media.php?title=houston_we_have_arrived

Houston Apartments: My vote for best space

I've always wanted to live in a swanky loft overlooking the city. You know the ones you see in the movies where the freight elevator goes right up to your unit and opens up into your living room.
Of course, these places are usually located in some scary warehouse district. And because I'm not exactly the Wolvereen or Batman, I just don't feel safe.

However, you will feel safe at the Sawyer Heights Lofts.

These lofts get my vote for best space for your money, because they are big - well most of them are big. I admit there were a couple 700 square feet units, but the majority are over 900 square feet.

While you don't get the freight elevator doorway that I dream about, you also don't get the scary warehouse vibe.

The area is growing like crazy. For those of you who aren't sure where these are, they are located by a Target just off of I-10 and two miles from downtown. Last year, the Target was the only thing there, but now there's a Chili's, a Pet Smart, a shoe store and more!

The units are also incredible. Ten-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, oversized balconies and great views are only the beginning. This place is ready for the modern urban dweller.

There's a coffee bar, a workout room with a yoga studio, a meditation garden and reflection pool, and, if you are writer like me, you can lounge by the pool and still get wireless Internet. Gotta love that.

Sawyer Heights Lofts really aim to be a peaceful oasis away from the city. They even offer complementary yoga and Pilate classes and have free Continental breakfast for their residents every second Saturday.

So what will living in a spacious loft set you back? Well, not as much as you might think. I saw a couple of 900 square feet 1 bedrooms that ran around $1200 to $1300 a month.

I did see a couple other great places. If looking for something in the same area, I also recommend checking out The Core. It's located on Washington close to the club scene. They were having some tempting move-in specials.

Another fabulous building is City Vista on Dallas Street. This one just opened up last year and the units are beautiful. They also have two pools: a lounging pool and a lap pool.

In the meantime, I now have a big pile of floor plans and a big decision to make.

Apartment Hunting: My Vote for Best Pool

I admit that I'm a big pool lover. I seldom actually use it, but I love knowing they are there and I like them to be pretty. So out of all the apartments I looked at, these two had the best pools.

AMLI ON DALLAS

This is the big red and orange complex on the corner of Dallas and Stafford. It doesn't look like much on the outside, the complex is actually really nice. It's also one of the cheapest places I've looked at as you can get a 1 bedroom for $1000 - not bad.

The units are spacious, all have balconies and are well maintained. They also have a fabulous gym.

But let me tell you about the pool. It's like a little lagoon and you feel like you are in a tropical resort. Ahhhhh.....

THE BEL AIR

Then there's the Bel Air. This place is my version of luxury and surprisingly it wasn't as expensive as I thought - because right now they have a 1 month free deal that they prorate over the year. So ignore the outrageous prices on their Web site because right now you can get a 1 bedroom there for $1050 or a 2 bedroom/1 bath for as little at $1450. Pretty darn good for a place this close to downtown and River Oaks.

The Bel Air kind of reminds me of a posh resort hotel like the ones along South Beach in Miami. The lobby is lavish, the workout room is incredible and the pool area is breathtaking. They even have cabanas for you and your friends to hang out in.

But the Bel Air doesn't just have one pool. They have two. In addition to the big pool where you can do laps or simply hang out, there is a more intimate smaller pool in another courtyard that is perfect for reading or relaxing in the sun.

They also have this great BBQ area for grilling and parties. Gotta love that!

Houston Apartments: My vote for best perks

If you live in the area, I'm sure you've noticed the construction that's happening on Kirby and Westheimer. It totally drives me nuts.

So...while I was stuck at the Westheimer light waiting for my turn to creep through, I thought maybe I should just check out those new apartments that are causing all these traffic problems.



The apartments are called West Ave.

Turns out they are kind of cool and win my vote for having the best perks.

I'm going to warn you, even though they are still under construction, they are more expensive than La Maison, which I visited yesterday -- but only a little bit more. In fact, I saw a one bedroom there for $1350 (with a two month free deal).

However, the views were really nice. This could be why they were slightly more money.

The units have hardwood livingrooms and carpeted bedrooms, and the feel is a little more "big city" compared to the "posh hotel" feel of La Maison. However, they have some really interesting perks such as units that come with wine chillers, a pet salon for pet grooming, built in bookshelfs and computer desks.

Some of the innovative things that you don't see everywhere were the built in iPod docks that could broadcast your tunes throughout your apartment via the surround sound speakers. They would also paint the accent wall in your living to your favorite color. There will also be a number of retail, wine bars and trendy restaurants opening underneath the building, making the address one of the best in town.

Sounds good?

Wait there's more --and this is the part that nearly had me signing on the dotted line --the restaurants will deliver to your unit like room service. Whoo-hoo!!!

West Ave also has a really nice workout place and a rooftop pool with a great view of the city.

But am I moving there? I don't know. We'll see where I go tomorrow.

Houston Apartments: My vote for best deal

Every day, I've been looking at apartments around the city. The good news is there are some reasonable places in the inner loop and even River Oaks (who would have thought this would be possible?) that feel like you are getting more for your money.

So here's my vote for best deal - La Maison.

You may not have even noticed this place going up, but La Maison is located on 2727 Revere Street right behind Whole Foods on Kirby. In fact, it's so close to Whole Foods that you could walk there for your morning coffee if you wanted.

Of course, you can also walk to the Wine Bucket, Flemings, Ruggles Green and Borders - Yay!!

This place has more than just a great location; it's also got class.

The building is currently under construction so if you get in now, you could get a one bedroom for less than $1200 a month (I saw one for $1152). The units all have hardwood floors, gorgeous stainless steel kitchens and great balconies. It was like being in a posh hotel room.

But the rooms are only the beginning.

Like I said the place is still under construction (which is why it's so affordable at the moment), but it's going to be beautiful. How do I know? Well, you know the Bel Air on Allen Parkway? Well, this place is being developed by the same company so you know it's going to be fab when it's done.

There are two resort style swimming pools, a club room, a swanky kitchen area where they say they will cooking classes and a clothing optional sundeck on the roof for those who, well...dare.

They are also going to have this amazing giant fire feature in one of the courtyards with seating all around it. It's not complete yet, but it sounded great.

By the way, the whole place is supposed to be complete by December 2009, but tenants are starting to move in now.

It's all very cool, but my search is not over yet. I have two more places to see before I make up my mind.

Girl About Town goes apartment hunting

Looks like KHOU's Girl About Town could soon be living in another part of the loop.

Yup...that's right. I'm coming up on my one year anniversary and that means my lease is also coming due.

So the crunch is on because it's either now or wait another 12 months before I have another chance to find a cheaper place - without paying a penalty.

But if you've been following my blog, you already know that I'm not a big shopper. That goes double for apartment hunting. It's stressful and, because there are so many places to see, it's exhausting.

Besides, I'm super picky.

So if I'm going to commit to living some place for a year, it's got to be the best place I can get for the little money that I have.

To make sure I get the best, I decided to cheat.

Yes, you heard me. I am cheating by passing the hard work onto someone else.

Her name is Lisa Castillo and she's an apartment locator.

Now if you've never used a professional like Lisa, you'll be in for a treat. Basically, I gave her a list of all my criteria such as the size, the price, the flooring, style, etc. Plus I wanted to be no farther than 20 minutes from the station and I wanted to be close to a few of my favorite shops (Starbuck's and Crave Cupcakes - yes, I'm still addicted. I just go less often).

Within 24 hours, she had a list for me.

I swear, it saved me hours of combing through the Internet.

Lisa is fabulous. She is even driving me to the places so I won't have to worry about being lost or wasting gas. But let me just say her contacts are the well-known complexes, so If you are looking for an apartment in a home or maybe renting someone's condo, you might be better going to Craig's list.

In the meantime, Lisa is going to start taking me out tomorrow. I'll let you know what we find.

Father and son roping team live the rodeo dream

The best part of my job is meeting people, and I must say, Allen Bach was one of the most interesting men I have met in my career. 

Allen Bach is a four time PRCA World Champion, 27 consecutive time qualifier to the National Finals Rodeo, and a three time all time high money winner of the George Strait Team Roping Classic.

Bach's been blessed with his success and the chance to rope all his life. But now he says he's living the dream by team roping with his 19-year-old son, Joel.
"I haven't won the most saddles and buckles in history, but I have all the championships that I need to have. My dream now would be to win the National Finals with my son. That would be a story book ending for me," said Bach.

Bach has been married for 30 years and competing in the rodeo during that entire time. As his four kids were growing up, they did everything as a family. However, now that his son is not just watching from the stands, but competing with him, the relationship is different.
"We team rope together so Joel's become more like a business partner. It would be anybody's dream to compete at the high level that we do in the rodeo," said Bach.

While the father/son team is a dream come true, Bach admits that they have had to make little adjustments to make it work.

"I have to be a dad first, then a partner, coach and best friend. But of course, my son would like me to be a partner first, then a coach, friend and finally a dad," said Allen Bach. "He thinks he's already grown up, but he's only 19, and there's still a lot to learn about the world."

But neither Allen or Joel would trade up what they have for anything else. The rodeo is part of their lives and it's almost as if Joel is taking over the family business.

"This is my second year competing with my dad, but I've been riding and roping since I was seven," said Joel. "I'd really like to make the finals and become one of the contenders for the World Rodeo. If we make it, I'll be one of the youngest headers."

Bach admits that his ties to the rodeo, and the people his son has met, made huge impact on Joel as he grew up. He understands the pressure, the lingo and the lifestyle.

"The people Joel's competing against are the same people he grew up with. They are friends and I think this works to his advantage as he's not star struck," said Bach.

Bach says he hopes to help give his son a boost to his rodeo career, but he says there's a lot more to it than just riding and roping. There's also the sponsorship and business side of the rodeo.

"I'm hoping because of my name and reputation that it will help with the advertising and sponsorship. He can follow in my footsteps," said Bach.

Even though Bach takes the rodeo business seriously, he works hard to balance it with his personal life.
In addition to being a rodeo champion, he is also an ordained minister and the founder of the ministry Forever Cowboys.

"It's just a group of guys and we try to bless the kids where we can with rodeo bible camps and other events. Our goal is to maximize the cowboy's influence in the world," said Bach.

According to Bach, the cowboy has always stood for integrity and doing what's right. He's a generic role model that can help make the world a better place.

"When you're a cowboy, your word is your honor. We're trying to follow those values and remind the next generation that these values are important. You can only win so many buckles and saddles. It's time to do something about changing the world," said Bach.

Currently living on 50 acre ranch in Weatherford, Texas, Allen and Joel are on the road for over half of the year. Bach says the secret to his success has to do with priorities.

"My wife is so strong. She's an incredible woman. Together we learned how to make a functional thing that could easily be dysfunctional. We learned to balance God, family and the rodeo," said Bach.

"I always tell people that rodeo makes a lousy God. It's just a spoke in the wagon wheel of life and you have to put God in the middle or else it won't work," said Bach. "I admit that sometimes in my life the rodeo ends up in the middle, but then I have to work to put God back there."

In the meantime, Allen and Joel are enjoying their time together as a team.

"It's really fun traveling with your dad, especially when you win," said Joel.

Bach also has a 15-year-old son that ropes. He's sometimes out competing with his mom while Bach is on the road with Joel.

Finding out what makes a cowboy a champion

Thursday was a busy day for me. I spent hours just hanging out behind the Reliant Stadium at the rodeo trying to find out just what makes a real-live cowboy.

It turns out that being a cowboy at the rodeo isn't all about winning saddles and gold buckles. In fact, based on many of the athletes that I met, the rodeo and riding has been a part of their lives since they were young.

Matt Shiozawa was one of the guys that I ran into. Shiozawa lives in Idaho, but was in Houston competing in the tie-down roping event in the BP Super Series.

"I've been serious about competing in the rodeo since high school," said Shiozawa. "This is what I do as my full-time job."

The 28-year-old has been around rodeos all his life. His family had a farm and he says that competing professionally was something that he's always wanted to do.

"Both my dad and my brother used to compete in rodeos so I've pretty much been around it all my life," said Shiozawa. "My dad and my brother competed locally."

Shiozawa has won a number of rodeo events including finishing 20th in 2004 in the world standings. He's also competed many times in the National Finals Rodeo.

"At first it's a lot practice, but I now feel my skills are as honed as they could be," said Shiozawa. "I believe that being the best athlete you can be is every bit as important as skills training so I weight train and keep in shape."

Jason Havens from Oregon was also there getting ready for Bareback Bronc Riding event.

Havens has been competing for the 17 years and placed in four of 10 rounds at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2007.

"I had a cousin that was in the rodeo, and when I was a kid, I would go and watch him," said Havens.

Havens grew up riding horses. But while his immediate family didn't have a farm, he had other family members that did.

"I always wanted to be in the rodeo," said Havens. "I couldn't afford to get a saddle, but my cousin had extra bareback harnesses so I did got into bareback riding."

Havens says that all though high school he practiced whenever he could.

"There were amateur stock contractors by the high school and I would practice on their horses. I also practiced at Walla-Walla Community College while I was attending school there," said Havens.

Like many of the athletes at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, both Havens and Shiozawa spend much of the year on the road. This year Shiozawa estimates that he'll be spending about 10 months going from competition to competition, while Havens will spend approximately 150 to 160 days on the road. The athletes don't travel alone. Many of them travel the circuit together.

"Bareback riders Bobby Mote, Brain Bain, Ryan Gray and I all travel together," said Havens. "I meet Bobby back in college and we just started travelling together."

Havens and Shiozawa are currently competing in the BP Super Series at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and while they are little quiet and don't seem to want to talk about how great they are, the guys are pretty good.

As of March 5, Shiozawa was first in the Series 1 tie-down roping standings. Havens was 8th in the bareback bronc riding standings.

Experiencing the "Goode" old Armadillo Palace

Here's a confession: Before moving Houston, I had no idea what Honky Tonk was.

Sure I had heard that Dire Straits Sultans of Swing song where they say "He can play honky tonk just like anything," and of course, the Rolling Stones "Honky Tonk Woman." But you know, those songs do not prepare you for Goode's Armadillo Palace on Kirby.

Let me just say, that I love, love, LOVE the giant armadillo outside the place. Every time I see him, he totally makes me laugh. I think it's the red laser beam eyes. Or may it's because he has steer horns (he's a true Texas armadillo) and smoke comes out of his nose (click on the image to see a bigger version).

Whatever, it is, you know going in that it's going to be a night to remember.

And it was. If you've never been, you have got to go. It's a Houston classic and decorated in that Texas style that you only find in good old bars.

There is stuff hanging off the walls, off the ceiling and off the beams. But it's not just stuff; it's cool memorabilia that makes the Armadillo what it is. You're going to see giant horns on the wall, pictures, steer heads and old rifles. The bar seats are even in the shape of saddles.

This place is like stepping into the wild West --if you had to cram all the West into one room. And this is exactly why I'm bringing my parents there when they visit. It's like a western museum with live music and a whiskey bar.

Yes, that's right. They have a whiskey bar, which is one of the reasons why I decided to go. Because frankly, I had never heard of a whiskey bar before.

They also have food that ranges from BBQ to venison chili to Frito pie.

But if you don't like Honky Tonk, don't worry. They have other bands. They just happened to be playing Honky Tonk when I was there.

So what did I think? Hmmmm....let's just say I'm not sure if I'm a big fan of that style of music. Like the whiskey, it's an acquired taste.

Still...I love that giant armadillo.

Party like a rock star

It's been a long time since I heard the five B's of 1980s rock, but on Saturday night they were all there.

If you're over 30, you know who they are. They are Bon Jovi, Billy Idol, Bryan Adams, Pat Benatar and of course, Blackheart - as in Joan Jett. The weird part was that they weren't just there in music. They were there in costume.

So where was I? I was at the Legends of Rock and Roll Fundraiser put on by TIRR Foundation, which is an organization that raises money for brain and spinal cord injuries. And it was - wait for it - totally awesome!

THE LEGEND BEHIND THE LEGENDS OF ROCK

This is the third year that TIRR Foundation has put on a fundraiser. Every year they are something different and just as cool.

"We were having it at the House of Blues, so Legends of Rock made an appropriate theme for that venue," said Brooke Reichek of TIRR Foundation. "The party chairs were excited about the rock star costumes and the theme in general."

I was pretty psyched about the costumes, too. Because where else would you find 250 people dressed up in rock star garb, mullets and spiked, overly teased hair? (see slideshow)

I swear I saw everyone from Elvis and Madonna, to Gem and the Holograms, to the bee girl from that Blind Melon video. It was a great night of people watching.

"The event is put on by the Junior VolunTIRR's. These are the young professionals of the organization. For the past two years, the fundraiser went to support Camp Xtreme, which is a week long overnight camp for wheelchair dependent children to make them feel like regular kids," said Brooke.

But this year's event was even more special.

"This year for the first time we are going to split the proceeds to support a clinical trial. There are two young girls who are currently in a wheelchair, but if their injuries are taken care of by the time they are four-years-old, there is a chance that they will walk and lead normal lives," said Brooke.

Now, those are two very good reasons to squeeze into leather pants and hot pink spandex.

THE BEST PART OF MY JOB

I swear I meet the best people in Houston with my job, and Saturday night was no exception. That's because one of the moms, whose child would be going through the clinical trial, was at the party.

She was dressed as Madonna in her early "Get into the Groove" phase, but her energy and determination to find a way to help her little girl would put the Material Girl's ambition to shame.

"My daughter, Elena, is paralyzed from the waist down, but from the waist up she's a tiger," said Juliet Porras.

Elena is only 20 months old, but she's been pretty busy fighting for her life since the day she was born. She's already beaten phase III cancer, met Lance Armstrong and has got the attention of some of the best doctors in Houston. Not bad for someone who hasn't even had her second birthday yet.

Because the cancer tumor was found on her spine, she's currently in a wheelchair. But her mom is determined to give her little girl the best life possible and thinks a neurosurgeon from Memorial Hermann and his colleague may have the answer.

"Dr. Baumgartner is working at getting the research passed so they can take stem cells from Elena's hip and introduce them into her spinal cord," said Juliet.

Taking cells from bone marrow isn't exactly going to be a happy day at the zoo for little Elena, but if everything goes well, she'll be in and out of the hospital before nightfall.

So Juliet has found the doctor and the possible treatment to get her daughter walking, but there is one big catch: It costs $300,000.

That's where TIRR comes in. With their help, she's determined to raise the money and spread the word.

"Elena had her first chemo treatment at two days old. She's already overcome so much and I know she's a fighter," said Juliet.

Yup, she's right. This little is girl is a fighter...just like her mom.

The Search for the Best BBQ in Houston

Let's face it. We are all looking for that perfect barbecue pit at the end of the rainbow. And guess what -- I found it. It's in Pearland.

Of course, I didn't find it on my own. I had a little help from someone who told me that Central Texas Style BBQ was the best barbeque in the Houston area.

Naturally, I was skeptical, but I took him up on his dare and did the trek.

And boy, am I glad I did.

THE LINE STARTS HERE

It was just after 12 noon when I arrived at Central Texas Style BBQ on 4110 West Broadway, and from the outside, the place is unassuming. But inside, you'll be in for a shock...and a treat.

First of all, there was a massive line.

I didn't know what to expect, but a line that wrapped around the counter and almost went out the back door wasn't it. But that was perfectly fine. I always take long lines in places like this to be a good sign. It means the food is fresh and the customers are happy.

Besides, there was a lot of choices on the menu and I needed some time to figure things out.

So why is this place so popular? Well, it is family owned and has been around for nearly four decades. But what really keeps people coming back again and again is that they actually hickory smoke their own meat in the two pits they have on site. Plus, the customer service is like eating at mom's house.

MORE BBQ THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE

Like I said, the line was long. But I really needed the time to think. That's because they have 10 choices of meat. Yup...that's right 10!! You can get everything from beef and sausage, to ham, turkey and chicken.

And once you figure out what you want, you then have to figure out how much you want.

I had never been to a place where you can order meat by the pound. Very cool, but a little intimidating for a BBQ newbie like me.

Thankfully, they have taken this into consideration as they have some plate dinners on the menu where you can pick one meat, two, three or a deluxe portion.

After watching the people in front of me get heaping trays full of food, I went with the Diana plate. Compared to the others, it's a smaller plate with your choice of meat, two sides and a drink.

So now all I had to do is pick out a side, but I was running out of time.

You see, even though the line is long, the people that eat there seemed to have a lot less of a problem picking out what they want than I did and the line was whipping by quickly.

I had only just narrowed down my meat, when it was time for me to pick out my sides - which is almost harder than the meat. That's because they have 14 main meal sides and seven desserts (that you can use as a side - excellent!).

Figuring in a place as busy as this, I couldn't go wrong with whatever I picked, I chose sweet potatoes and this one dish that all three people in front of me got. I didn't even know what it was, but it seemed to be very popular.

"That's Banana Pudding," said the server. "It's really good."

Okay, that sounds good to me.

BECAUSE I'M A PEPPER, TOO

One of my favorite things about Texas is there is always Dr. Pepper and I LOVE Dr. Pepper. Of course, there is always sweet tea, too, but that hasn't grown on me like the Dr. Pepper has.

After I filled my giant cup with the good doctor, I carried my now heavy tray to my table to see if the BBQ was as good as it smelled. And it was. It was tender, slightly hickory in flavor and worth the 30 minutes it took me to get there.

And yes. My source was correct. This was the best barbecue in Texas, and the place all others will be compared to in the future.

My banana pudding was also good, but by the time I ate the all meat and the sweet potatoes (yes, my mom taught me to eat the real food first), I was so stuffed, I couldn't finish it.

I was also glad I got the smallest plate on the menu, because if I ate any more, I would have exploded.

And by the way...the line was even longer at 12:45 so people just kept on coming in for the yummy barbecue goodness.

WAKE ME UP, I'M IN FOOD HEAVEN
Then I saw it. The cornbread.

I leaned back in my chair and was about to take a couple of pictures of the restaurant when I noticed that every person sitting around me had this giant piece of cornbread on their table. Let me tell you a little secret...I will do anything for cornbread. It's my Texas kryptonite, and whenever it's around, I have to have it.

Based on the observation that everyone around had a giant chunk, I concluded that this must be some pretty good stuff, and there was no way I was going to miss out on good cornbread. Besides, if this place had the best barbecue in the area, then maybe it had the best cornbread, too.

It turns out they don't just have the best cornbread; they have the two types of cornbread: Jalapeno and sweet. Yay!! And it's only $0.75 - double Yay!!!

Yup, you will be seeing me in Pearland more often. In fact, I'm kind of craving barbecue right now.

Praise the Lord and pass the biscuits at House of Blues

Wow! When the House of Blues told me they were going to feed my soul, they weren't kidding.

Beginning on Sunday January 11, the House of Blues is serving up Sunday brunch. But this isn't just any old Sunday brunch; it's a gospel brunch.

I dropped by during their test run just to check it out and it blew me away. And it should. Their brunch has actually won awards in other cities and it's sure to do the same in Houston.

LET'S TALK FOOD

First of all, let's talk about the food.

Are you going to get eggs and bacon? You sure are...but you'll also get some of that good old fashion soul food that the House of Blues is famous for. I'm talking about grits, biscuits and gravy, Creole chicken and shrimp jambalaya, and more good stuff.

They also have a waffle station, a meat carving station, and a made-to-order omelet area. So, if you're going to go, make sure you're hungry because the food is too good to pass up!

"Every Sunday, we'll transform the 1,500 person grand music hall into a family-style dining area. The tables will be set up in front of the stage so everyone has a great seat to watch the show," said Brian DiStefano, Marketing Manager of House of Blues Houston.

Distefano said they can fit 250 people in the area and will do two shows every Sunday. The first show will start at 11 a.m. and the second one at 1 p.m.

Oh...and did I mention that it's an all you eat buffet? If you want to be tempted, just check out the House of Blues Gospel Bunch menu.

LET'S TALK SOUL

The food might be mouthwatering good, but it's the music that will feed your soul. For the opening Sunday, the Hensley Ensemble along with Sylvia St. James will perform.

Let me just say, that St. James has a voice that could reach the heavens. She was incredible.

Dressed in a white dress and a feather hat, she had the entire room on their feet and waving their napkins in the air. The whole experience was uplifting, energetic and inspiring.

"The first three weeks our talent will be coming in from Dallas, but we are auditioning local talent next week," said Robert Simeone, Senior VP of the House of Blues.

Every week they plan to showcase someone new, but it won't always be a choir.

"Sometimes it will be a large choir, and sometimes it will be a popular gospel artist," said DiStefano.

LET'S TALK TICKETS

The best thing about the brunch is that it's not expensive. For $35, you get the southern-style buffet and can watch the concert. Children under 12 are $18 and children under 5 are free.

If you don't want to eat and only want to watch the show, balcony seats are available. The price for these is $18.

"We recommend that people purchase tickets in advance as the shows usually sell out," said DiStefano. "They can only buy tickets through the House of Blues box office."

The number for the box office is: 832-667-7732.

Ice sculpting at Discovery Green in Houston

There's more than skating going at Discovery Green; there's also ice sculpting-- but only this Saturday (January 10). I heard there was going to be seven artists sculpting so I drove down there to check it out.

Unfortunately, I was a little early as the ice was still in big cubes. But I did get to see them chisel away and chain saw some of the ice. There were ice chips flying everywhere!!

BREAKING OUT THE CHAIN SAWS

I highly recommend checking it, because these ice guys aren't want-to-be artists who are doing this for the first time. The guys are actually famous in the ice sculpting world.

In fact, the artists include Ben Rand (who just happens to be the #2 carver in the country), Dawson List, Vegas Iceman, Rich Bubin (Guinness Book World Record holder), Dan Rebolze, Robert Childres and Buddy Rassmussin.

The ice guys started carving away at 10 a.m. this morning, but when I got there at noon (yes, I was really early), they were just starting to chip out designs. They are going to be carving all afternoon and then at 5 p.m. the judging will begin.

THE SUPER COOL PART

I know that ice is already pretty cool, but the super cool part of the night is taking place at 6:15 p.m. That's when Reverend Butter of DLG Ice Factory is going to perform a 45-minute carving to live music by the band Downfall 2012.

If you have never seen Reverend Butter, I totally recommend going. He's an artist, entertainer and all round cool dude.

As you can tell, I love him. I had the chance to meet him at the Red Bull Art of Can exhibit in July 2008 and instantly became a fan of his work. It's not just his talent that will win you over, but his personality. He's a character - a true Texan with a style all his own.

CHECK IT OUT AND SEND ME YOUR PHOTOS

Even though I went early to the event, I took a bunch of photos. The only problem is I can't take the after shots as I'll be at the station. So...if you go, email them to me and I'll add them to the slideshow. I'd love to see what the final cubes of ice look like!

Email your photos to michelle@michelleponto.com.

This year I resolve to run in circles

I'm a runner. When I say this, I don't mean that I run marathons or that I run fast - although I would like to. Instead, I merely run the Mermorial Park loop.

I run the loop a couple of times a week and I must admit I love it. In fact, the loop was one of the reasons I moved to Houston.

You see, I've been a slow, but dedicated runner for years. It's my way to de-stress, forget about errands and move all my thoughts to the back burner. All I think about when I run is the beat of the music from my iPod and my goal of finishing the 5K.

But in order to make the running enjoyable, I have to "like" the path I run on --otherwise, it's torture and reminds me of gym class. Plus, it's got be safe, have a good running surface, and it's got to be pretty.

Yes, I know the last one is a little lame, but you have to admit that it's much nicer to run with trees or water around, compared to a concrete industrial track.

BEST PLACES TO RUN IN HOUSTON

When I lived in Memphis, I ran along the Mississippi, and when I lived in Tampa, I ran along the bay on Bayshore. So when I moved to Houston, the first thing I needed to find was my running spot.

Surprisingly, Houston has a bunch of great running places. But three are my favorite. The first is, of course, Memorial Park. I love knowing exactly how far I'm running and knowing the end is just around the corner.

Then there's the Buffalo Bayou. The trail is gorgeous and unpredictible. There are even shady spots which make it perfect for running on those super hot Houston summer days. But of course, there are times when it smells like...well, it smells like bayou - if you know what I mean. It's also pretty scary when the sun goes down.

My final favorite trail is the one by the zoo. I don't even know what this one is called, but it's a nice relaxing run.

But if you don't like these, there is also this website that lists a bunch Houston jogging paths.

RUNNING IN CIRCLES FOR 2009

Right now I run the loop once and then treat myself to Starbucks on the way home. But I'm thinking for 2009, I should challenge myself. I'm going to try to run the loop not just once, but twice. Maybe not every time, but on the days when I actually have an entire morning free.

So to do that, I spent the day pumping up my iPod with music to keep me motivated the whole time -- because you know, nothing is more boring than running in circles in silence. Somehow, the music takes the pain away.

So what's on my iPod? Well, it's a little bit electic, but here it is:

First loop around:

• 4 Minutes - Madonna and Justin Timberlake
• I Don't Want to be in Love (dance version) - Good Charlotte
• Shake It - Metro Station
• Take My Hand - Simple Plan
• Bad Girlfriend - Theory of a Deadman
• Cold Hard B**tch - Jet
• Are you going to be my Girl - Jet

Second loop around:

• The Hand That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails
• Snakes on a Plane - Cobra Starship
• Faster Kill Pussycat - Oakenfold
• He's a Pirate - Klaus Badelt & Tiesto remix techno version
• Truly Madly Deeply - Cascada
• Misery Business - Paramore
• Bleed it Out - Linkin Park

Emergency songs (just in case I run slower than usual):

• Stoned in Love - Chicane
• Sandstorm - Darude
• Another Girl Another Planet - Blink 182

Bringing in the New Year with a pop...pop...pop

Yes, I am a party pooper, but this year I wasn't planning to do the big New Year's Eve celebration. I figured I already had a great six months in Houston checking out what's going on around town that a relaxing night at home sounded wonderful.

In fact, I even had my night planned with my crackers and fancy cheese (the kind you only buy during the holidays), champagne in a can (it's not Taittinger which is my favorite, but not bad), and a couple of rental movies. Heaven.

But if you happened to have been at the Hyatt last night, you might have seen me. Yup...instead of hanging out at home, I decided to paint the paint the town red - well gold, as that was what I wearing (see the picture to the left. That gray band is my camera which I tossed over my shoulder for the shot).

I figure I can eat cheese any day, but how often can I ring in the New Year in style? Besides, I really couldn't resist going after so many people told how fabulous the party at the Hyatt is year after year. Plus, after I learned that the hotel had been throwing the New Year party for 34 years and that over 2,000 people would be there, I definitely had to go.

I didn't want to miss out on the ultimate New Year's bash.

And how could it not be? It was - count them - three floors of party space. Not three rooms, but the entire floor. Each floor had a band or DJ and a whole of people dressed in everything from jeans to gowns. But it didn't matter what they were wearing. The one thing they all had in common was the goal to party like it was 1999 ...um ...I mean 2009 (although they did play that Prince song).

The bartenders were also busy all night popping champagne like it was only beverage on earth. But hey, it's New Year's Eve and if you ever need to excuse to indulge in the bubbly, this is the night to do it. The only thing that they didn't have was food, but if I was smart, I would have reserved dinner at Shula's beforehand.

However, I wasn't there for the champagne or the music. I was there for the balloons. The 50,000 free falling balloons. They drop them all from a net at the stroke of midnight from the 33rd floor of the hotel. And let me just say that they were gorgeous in all their multi-colored splendor.

I didn't think I'd be so amazed over a bunch of balloons, but they were so mesmerizing you almost wanted them to fall for even longer. I tried to take a video, but it's not the same. You just have to be there to experience it.