December 2007
Season’s Greetings!
Hello again my Neighbors, Friends and Family,
Oh December, a joyous time to reflect on the past year and plan for the next. I love this time of year; the brisk chill in the air seems to cleanse my soul. Everyone be sure to enjoy the trail of lights, Yule log, a downtown stroll, the music, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar (full of local Artisan’s crafts), and don’t forget about the W 37th street stroll off the Westside of Guadalupe for a local treat. A quick note, to enjoy the W 37th Street lights it’s usually best to park in the neighborhood and walk to the 400 block of the street.
In this December issue of my newsletter I’ve included some entertaining events around town. A little update on the Monarch project in case you missed the Statesman article and a quick, simple fresh spinach recipe. I hope everyone’s
Thanksgiving was wonderful and enjoy the upcoming holiday season.
Again, I’d like to thank everyone for your continued support over the past four years. And remember, I am never too busy for your questions, concerns or referrals.
Sincerely,
Michael Quinones
REALTOR
Simple Sautéed Spinach
Ingredients: 3-4 cloves of garlic (garlic powder will work too) Pinch of salt and cracked black pepper. Lots of fresh baby spinach Extra virgin olive oil (or any olive oil)
For any of you spinach lovers out there here’s a great recipe. Try sautéed baby spinach with garlic. It’s a very simple recipe. First, get some fresh garlic. You’ll need about three or four cloves of garlic. You can add more if you’re a garlic fan like me. Then, slice the garlic (preferably with a paring knife) as thin as your patience allows and set it aside.
Next, place a sauté pan over a medium-low heat and add enough extra virgin olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Remember a general rule of thumb in cooking: too little heat is better than too much. Once the oil is hot (15-20 seconds), add the garlic and let it simmer for about 30 seconds (or until you notice it begin to turn tan from white). If the garlic is jumping around in the pan like crazy, turn down the heat.
Then, add as much fresh baby spinach as you can fit in the pan, mix it with the garlic and cover. After about 30 seconds the spinach will shrink. This is when I like to add a little salt and cracked black pepper (sometimes a dash of cayenne pepper too). Mix again and it’s pretty much ready to serve. Depending on the heat level it may need to be covered for a few more seconds…you’ll notice the spinach shrink.
When You Do Good, You Feel Good
Want to set the tone for feeling good the entire day? Try one of these methods.
If you see someone looking lost or struggling with a map, ask them if they need help. They’ll be grateful, and you’ll feel great for helping someone make their way in the world. Or the next time you’re in the grocery store waiting in line with a big order and you see someone coming through who has just an item or two to pay for — let the person go ahead of you. The same applies in traffic. When you notice cars closing the gap on the person with their blinker on, take a stand and open a gap in front of you so they can get in the lane. Taking small actions such as these can set the tone for a positive and happy day or evening.
December Events
December 1 - 23…………The Nutcracker, Paramount Theatre Get in the holiday spirit with the 45th anniversary performance - www.balletaustin.org
December 1 - 30…………IMAX Holiday Shows Santa vs. the Snowman 3D takes holiday magic to a whole new dimension.The Polar Express: A 3D Experience for an inspiring journey to the North Pole.
December 1 - 30…………Whole Foods Ice Rink. Even in Texas, it wouldn’t be the holiday season without ice skating on the Whole Foods Market Ice Rink. 525 N. Lamar. The rink is open from 10am to 9pm daily.
December 2 - 23…………Trail of Lights Festivities
December 2 - Zilker Tree Lighting, 6pm
December 8 - Trail of Lights 5K Run, 6:30pm
December 9 - Grand Opening Parade, the trail will be open 12/9 -12/23, 7pm - 10pm
December 14 - 24…………Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. NEW Location - Austin Convention Center - 500 E. Cesar Chavez, Exhibit Hall 2, 11am-11pm
December 31……………….First Night Austin New Year’s Eve Festival that is a family-friendly, alcohol free celebration of the arts all ‘round downtown Austin’s public places and parks. A culturally-rich and artistically diverse experience. www.firstnightaustin.org
Area N Under the Microscope
Area N is another Austin MLS area increasing both in popularity and price. It seems to gradually be considered a good location close to town. Just like areas 10 and 2N, this area has mature trees and a nice proximity to shopping with some subdivisions within the Round Rock school district. Statistically speaking, the supply of single family homes dropped seventy-five percent from January 2004 to October 2007. The largest drop occurred in 2004 when supply fell 42 % to 3.9 months in August from 6.7 in January. Supply has remained relatively stable since March of ’06 hovering around 2 months. Median price has gradually increased from 145K to 180K.
