2 Races: Lights of Love 5k

This year was the first "Lights of Love 5k."  It's a race that benefits Austin's Ronald McDonald House Charities.  A really cute idea.  Friday December 5th at 7:30, the race began - without me.  As soon as my finals are over I am writing a 2 page complaint to whoever was in charge of the directions for this event.  The complaint is going to be single-spaced.  Oh yes.  

We got there 30 minutes early to make sure that we would get a decent spot in the race, not knowing how many people were going to turn out.  The race was located at Mueller Hangar - 4550 Mueller Blvd.  Can you find it? because my GPS couldn't.  It said those roads didn't exist.  It was in one of those little shopping mall areas where the street names are there for aesthetics but aren't really roads.   Their map deserves an F.  PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE I SCANNED AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.  They failed so hard unless the race was supposed to be in lego land.  You can't even read the names of anything in the image.  

I dare say I might have found it if the cops weren't blocking off every street.  When I say this, I don't exaggerate.  There was only one way into the place and it wasn't the way the directions on the brochure said to go.  I seriously asked 5 different cops where to go and they all told me I was going the right way.  I wasn't.

Of course at the end of all of this we were quite late.  So what did we do?  We ran alone for 2 miles before we caught up to grandmothers walking the 5k.  No seriously, they were handing out cookies and water at the first water checkpoint.  At the second one, they were handing out only hot chocolate because it was freezing outside.  So we drank hot chocolate and walked through a neighborhood that reminded me of the one from Shotime's "Weeds."  At least we gave money to a good cause.

2 Races: The Dallas Turkey Trot

The Turkey Trot is a race in Dallas that takes place on Thanksgiving morning every year benefiting the YMCA.  My family has been doing it since before I was born so every Thanksgiving, I find myself, usually cold, forced to go 3 miles.  When I was younger I did the 8 mile because I had no concept of exhaustion.  After a few years in college, I've gotten so out of shape that I feel accomplished knowing that i "trained" hard enough to do the 3 mile in 25 minutes.

The race is the biggest Thanksgiving event of its kind in the country.  This year, it had over 50,000 runners turn out.  The crowd is massive.  I would have probably won the race if there weren't so many people clogging the streets of downtown Dallas.  Win or lose, it's a great way to start Thanksgiving.  Lose a few pounds in the morning, then add them and a few more back at dinner.

Amazing Grace (New Christmas Lights Display)

Here's a new one.

"Go big or go home" it seems.

Happy Holidays.

Amazing Christmas Lights Display - Watch more Free Videos

Wizards of Winter (That Old Chrismas Lights Video)

Christmas is right around the corner.

In the holiday spirit, here's a throwback.

Remember this?

Wizards Of Winter - Watch the top videos of the week here

5 Restaurants: Baby Greens

I guess this isn't really a restaurant.  It's more of a fast food salad joint.  It was really pretty cool.  Just a tiny green building on the corner of Oltorf and South First.  I found myself pressed for time while driving by so I pulled in and ordered a chicken ceasar.  

It was just like being at any fast food place but you leave with something healthy... fast.  The salad was delicious and not expensive.  Baby Greens is going to be one of those places I hit up regularly from now on.

5 Restaurants: Wahoo's

This place was... what's the word, Michael? Unique.  

I almost felt like I needed to wear a BMX, surf, skateboard or snowboard uniform.  I mean look, they even discriminate states - located only in Alaska, California, Colorado and this ONE location in Austin.  It looked like someone went to the X-Games and stole 100 stacks of those free stickers with the different snowboard brand logos.  They then covered the walls of Wahoo's Fish Taco with those stickers.  The TV's must all be playing Fuel TV - the channel with all these "extreme" sports.

I'd say the food reminded me of a much tastier version of Chipotle, but with almost all fish; the kinds of fish you've never heard of (Bonzai, Wahoo).  I've been twice and I'd say you should order the Bonzai Bowl or the Bonzai Burrito.  This is another place you can order dry or wet.  Order the burrito wet and they cover it in melted cheese and a delicious green sauce making your burrito look like a giant enchilada. mmmm.  Try it, you'll be surprised.

5 Restaurants: Boticelli's

A couple weeks ago, Romeo's was a success so I tried again with Boticelli's.  Last night, I was less impressed by this Italian joint located in the heart of SoCo (On the East side close to that Amy's Ice Cream).

The dining room is almost claustrophobic.  There may have been 10 parties eating in that room.  They make up for it by having a more open area in the back - the "beer garden."  One of those half outdoors kind of things with a bar and a stage for live music.  Could have been a good place to eat if it weren't freezing outside.

The food was good but I'm not going to suggest it to someone looking for good Italian in Austin.  Granted, I ordered the Chicago style roast beef sandwich (Order it dry or wet.  Wet - they dip the whole sandwich in the roast beef's juices or something.  I wish more places would do that.)  She had butternut squash ravioli - if you go there, get that.