Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Best Happy Hour ever at The Domain Westin

Let's start today out with a no judging policy. Going out on a Tuesday night for Happy Hour is the right thing to do. Especially when you are heading to The Westin at The Domain. My wife and I have traveled to many states, usually deciding to park ourselves at a Starwood property because of the amazing service. When we moved to Austin this past June we had no idea where to move. So we stuck with the whole Westin routine and drove the U-Haul straight to the valet. We stayed as hotel guests until we found a place to live full time. Each day we woke up and went down to the breakfast bar to have coffee with Sara - the most amazingly kind barista you could ever imagine. Her outgoing personality helps you get ready to face the day. After three nights of staying at The Westin, we began to realize we really enjoyed the comfortable community of The Domain. Instead of renting a house, we chose to rent an apartment located right behind the hotel.  The Westin general manager heard about our story and personally delivered discount cards to our room so that we could always have happy hour prices at their restaurant and bar. You can find us at least once a week grabbing a bite to eat or listening to live music in the lounge. Their happy hour menu is unique, in that all the drinks are from local vendors. Here is the link to the Urban Grill and Bar at the Westin http://www.urbanatthedomain.com/bar.php. On the right side of the blog you will see a picture of a handsome man named Isaac. He is one of many great bartenders at the Urban Grill. This guy is a must meet. Great stories and a fantastic musician that performs each Friday night. When thinking of what to do next time you are wanting a cocktail, give the Urban Grill at The Westin Austin at the Domain a try.

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Monday, August 26, 2013

Evening Bike Ride and The Bean


I have taken on a new task in my life. Me and a few buddies have signed up for a couple triathlons to run in September and October. With that being said, training has started and one of
our new favorite traditions is finding a bike route on http://austintexas.gov/page/trail-directory and then stopping at The Coffee Bean to grab a 
coffee and sit outside in their court yard. It is very quiet and relaxing on the patio; and not nearly as 
busy as Starbucks is. One of the benefits of The Domain is how bike friendly they are. Each 
street is lined with bike lanes, which encourages active lifestyles in the community. 
The Coffee Bean is both walkable and bike-able from our apartment; and is also conveniently
located right next to iPic making it a great spot to take a date before or after a movie. 























www.coffeebeanaustin.com/
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NOCC 5K in The Domain


Sunday morning at The Domain was a great morning. My wife and I and a couple other friends that also live in the Domain Parkside Apartments, joined together and ran in the NOCC (National Ovarian Cancer Center) 5k run. The whole course was in The Domain community. It was an inspiring event, drawing families and friends together for a good cause. It was so convenient waking up an hour before the race starts - not having to worry about parking and having plenty of time to walk to Starbucks to get a morning coffee.  Below is a link to the NOCC website, if you are interested in learning more about their goals.

Material provided from http://nocc.kintera.org/.

The Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer is the largest fundraiser and awareness event for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Organized by local Chapter volunteers, this event celebrates our survivors, remembers those we’ve lost to ovarian cancer and increases awareness about ovarian cancer. Registration fees include a t-shirt and access to all activities on the day of the event. Pledges and donations are welcome, but not required.

The mission of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition is to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer. The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.

The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition is a nationally recognized organization with a growing nationwide network of Chapters. NOCC volunteers fuel the ovarian cancer movement in local communities throughout the United States. These volunteers understand the specific needs of individual communities and through the establishment of local Chapters, promote and expand patient, public and professional education about ovarian cancer.

At the local level, NOCC volunteers network patients, family members and caregivers to provide support and encouragement. They also organize awareness events, provide educational programs, sponsor continuing medical education symposia and disseminate literature at health fairs.

About Ovarian Cancer
More than 20,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, and approximately 14,000 women die annually from the disease. Unfortunately, most cases are diagnosed late when prognosis is poor. However, if caught early, ovarian cancer is over 90% treatable. It’s imperative that the early signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are recognized not only by women, but their loved ones and the medical community as well. There is currently NO early detection test for ovarian cancer, nor is there a vaccination to prevent the disease. The key to early diagnosis is awareness.
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Friday, August 23, 2013

Transportation like a rockstar.




One of the best things about living in The Domain is the transportation. You may ask yourself, what are some of the best neighborhoods to live in Austin?  Depending on what you are looking for, The Domain sure has a lot to offer. Whether you want to be picked up at your front door and delivered to your favorite restaurant in The Domain, or want a private bus ride to downtown Austin to meet co-workers or friends, transportation could not be easier to find. Let me present 6 different transportation options. The first one is common sense - your local cab company.  Public bussing (also known as the Capital Metro) is your second option.  For those who prefer a "fancier" ride, there are a few other choices. The Metro Rail at the Kramer station is roughly a 5-7 minute walk from The Domain.  Below is the website for schedules.
Another option is convenient for those weekend nights where you may be having some cocktails and need a late night ride. D2D shuttle will pick you up at your door step and drive you downtown and pick you up at your convenience until the later hours of the night. The next option is the Car2Go. If you work from home or don't want to own a car this company offers programs and memberships to rent cars hourly, many of which are available in The Domain.  The final mode of transportation is the Domain shopping shuttle that will take you anywhere in the Domain for free. Whether you need to run to the store quick for that perfect outfit or you had too many dollar mimosas at The Park to walk home, they have you covered. Downtown Austin can't provide that.

Riding MetroRail - Capital Metro - Austin Public Transit . 

https://www.facebook.com/D2Dbus
www.car2go.com/

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