In addition to the full marathon, scheduled for Sunday, October 10th (10-10-10, how cool is that?), there will also be a Tyler Rose half marathon and 5k.  Formerly known as the Tyler Half, this is the new and improved 2010 version complete with a new name, new course, and new full length marathon, the first full length marathon in the history of Tyler.  But wait there’s more…  The courses will all be USATF certified, and the marathon will be a Boston qualifier!

The courses have been mapped and will be finalized once they have been measured and certified by the USATF.  The marathon course will start in downtown Tyler, head west on Hwy 31, loop behind Tyler Pounds airport and head back east on Hwy 64.  The course then runs back in to Tyler through some of the Azalea District and finishes at Ferguson and College.  There will be 18 aid stations along the course.

Anyone who can participate definitely should.  Even if you are unable to run in the race, offering support and encouragement from the sidelines is a great way to get involved in this really cool event.  For those of you who are interested in running, more information can be found at www.tylermarathon.com.  Also, don’t forget that the Azalea 10k is coming up at the end of March, and it is a great race on a beautiful course through the Azalea District during the peak of azalea season.  You don’t want to miss it!

Nearly every vendors’ booth offered cool swag, and there were lots and lots of opportunities to enter for drawings for this or for that.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed on that zero-turn mower drawing I entered.  I don’t think the man believed me when I told him I do all the mowing in my household while my husband does the cooking.  Just in case the new lawn mower doesn’t work out, I made sure to get my ticket stamped at each major sponsor’s booth so I could enter the Blue Print for Prize drawing for a gift certificate for any one of the vendors who participated in the show.  What a wonderful dilemma that would be to have to pick just one of so many great vendors.

For me, the highlights of the show were the light fixture made of antlers, the wrought iron doors, and of course, the self-closing drawer hinges.  I thought those things only existed on HGTV.  Another really cool thing I saw were the sinks shaped like the state of Texas and one shaped like a martini glass.  The martini glass sink’s faucet was controlled by an olive adorned handle.  So cute yet so impractical!  Still, maybe in my next house I’ll be able to come up with a place to put one of those.

The 2010 Home Products Show was a lot of fun, and it certainly got me excited about the 2010 Parade of Homes coming up June 5-13.  For more information on the Tyler Area Builders Association, the Home Products Show, and the Parade of Homes please see their website at www.tylerareabuilders.com.

The lucky family won’t be revealed until February 25th when they will get a much anticipated knock on the door from Ty Pennington and the design team.

Volunteers are still needed for all shifts, especially the overnight crews.  Construction will begin late this month and crews and volunteers will work around the clock until the home is completed.  In the show’s over 100 home history, Extreme Makeover Home Edition has never missed a deadline.

For more info or to sign up to volunteer go to their website:  http://www.tylerextrememakeover.com

We went back to Fish City Grill on Thursday evening and were seated at a corner table right by the big screen.  Though we were invited back, we remained anonymous throughout our meal.  Just like it might not have been fair to judge Fish City after one night of bad service, it also wouldn’t be fair to critique them if they knew they were serving the Tylerites.  We wanted to give them a fair shot to redeem themselves, and did they ever.

One of the big reasons our second visit to Fish City was so much better than the first was our awesome server, Ray.  He was funny, polite, and knowledgable, and I’d venture to say he’s one of the better servers in Tyler.  I enjoy having a server who can make good suggestions, and all of his were spot on.  We started with the fried pickles which were delicious, and for our entrees I had the mahi mahi, my sister had the salmon, and my husband had the crab cakes.  I also knew I wanted a glass of wine with my meal, and Ray’s suggestion to go with the Pinot Grigio was perfect.  Our entrees, which came out promptly, were amazing.  My mahi mahi was seasoned just right, and I especially liked the green beans spiked with diced purple onions.  My sister’s salmon came with a dallop of spicy butter and was excellent, but we all agreed that the crab cakes my husband ordered (based on Ray’s recommendation) were our favorite.  I will definitely be ordering those next time.  And yes, after this experience, there will definitely be a next time.

It’s amazing how different my impression was after this visit than it was after our first.  Everything was better this time around.  Thank you so much Fish City for inviting us back.  We would be sorely missing out if we let one bad experience keep us away from this place.

Jakes is the type of place that you would expect to be exceptionally good, and it lives up to all of my expectations each time I visit.  It’s one of the pricier places to eat in Tyler, but the atmosphere, service, and fantastic food really make it worth the price.  Jakes makes the perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion, or to satiate a need for indulgence which is exactly what we did on Friday.  We decided to share the Oysters Rockafeller, and I kid you not when I say they were the absolute best oysters I have ever tasted.  I think even people who don’t like oysters would love these.  Broiled with butter, Applewood smoked bacon, onion, spinach and freshly shaved parmesan cheese, Jakes’ Oysters Rockafeller are simply to die for.  We devoured all dozen of the oysters, and on an oyster high made the impulse decision to finish the night off with Jakes coconut cream bread pudding.  Yes, this was as fantastically good as it sounds.  Not one word was spoken as we dove into the dessert, and we didn’t come up for air until the plate was scraped clean.

We could not have picked a better place to enjoy our girls’ night out.  Everything was perfect from the moment we walked in until we bundled back up and headed home for the night.  It was far too cold to enjoy this weekend, but Jakes roof top cheveta is one of the coolest places in Tyler to visit on a warm spring evening.  You can dine while overlooking the square in downtown Tyler, and they even have live music on the weekends.  I’m already looking forward to coming back for more oysters and bread pudding on the roof when the temperatures warm up.

First, Kimberly had to remove all my extensions so we could start with a clean slate.  I couldn’t get over how different and weird my hair felt without my extensions in.  This time, Kimberly decided to use a different method of application on me, one that will last longer and involve less maintenance.  In fact, Kimberly actually created this method herself.  This method involves strings, tiny beads, and a lot of skill, but I ended up with a head of hair that looks so natural you would never know it’s not my own.

I think my appointment lasted about three hours total, which is pretty amazing seeing as we removed a whole head of extensions, then intricately wove them back in to my natural hair, and cut and styled.  I actually enjoyed my time at the salon visiting with Kimberly and the other girls who work at Belladonna.  Everyone there is so nice and enjoyable.  For anyone interested in learning more about the different types and methods of hair extension application, check out Kimberly’s website www.hairadded.com.

The par 71 Championship golf course, designed by Carlton Gipson, is one of the longest in East Texas, featuring a distance of 6,977 yards from the back tees.  The course runs through one of the most beautiful neighborhoods around, and is lined by dogwoods, mature hardwoods, and azaleas.

My personal experience of the golf course is limited, as I’ve only played a couple of rounds, but what I can attest to is the fabulousness which is the clubhouse.  The grounds are beautiful, and the clubhouse itself is nothing short of magnificent.  The French Country style facility hosts formal and casual dining, player lounges, and a full service golf pro shop.   I had my wedding reception in one of the banquet rooms, and all my guests were blown away not only by the location, but by the friendly and attentive people who work at Eagle’s Bluff.  I worked with an event coordinator, and she made sure that everything was perfectly taken care of so my night would be everything I could have ever imagined.

My husband and I also enjoyed our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple last year at Eagle’s Bluff for their spectacular five course menu created especially for that occasion.  It was beyond wonderful and we both enjoyed every minute (and bite) of it.  I liked it so much that when I was put in charge of planning my company Christmas party, I immediately knew it HAD to be at Eagle’s Bluff.  Once again, all our guests loved it, and everyone had a wonderful time.  We had a private room and a special menu, and everything about it was perfect.  I’d definitely do it again next year.

In addition to the restaurant and golf course, Eagle’s Bluff also offers their members swimming, a fitness center, and tennis.  Each year they host a Fourth of July fireworks show on the course and last year they opened it up to the public and it drew quite a crowd.  For anyone planning a romantic evening, a special event, or a round of golf, Eagle’s Bluff is definitely worth a look.

Eagle’s Bluff
465 Eagles Bluff Boulevard
Bullard, TX 75757-9826
(903) 825-2999

I have since been to Einstein several times, and have been happy with each of these subsequent visits.  It turns out that my hunch was right – stick to what Einstein does best and order a bagel.  Upon the recommendation of a friend, I ordered something I probably wouldn’t have ordered on my own, but I am thankful I was turned on to the deliciousness of the garden veggie spread on a toasted Asiago cheese bagel.  They toast the bagel perfectly and don’t skimp on the spread, making each bite better than the last.  Especially the bites in the middle where most of the spread seems to end up.

In addition to their fantastic bagels, the coffee is good too.  I’ve ordered several of their pumpkin lattes, and they are hot and delicious each time.  I’d like to try something else at Einstein, but now that I’ve found the Asiago bagel with garden veggie spread and their lattes, I doubt I will stray too far.  I am happy I was able to make peace with Einstein and see what they really have to offer.

Einstein Bros Bagels
4500 S Broadway Ave
Tyler, TX 75703-1305
(903) 509-2929