The New Road to Somewhere

I know I have been gone for a while and know that I need to keep up with some of these things. I also need to let you know I have been working on a top secr... well, not that secret, I have been creating a new company and trying to get my name out there. If you zoom over to Cup A Tech then you will see what I have been working on.

This has been a long journey, if you want you can also see the Facebook page here. If you go, please hit the like button as a favor. I know, cheap plugs, I feel like a celebrity endorsing a book on The Tonight Show, "Yea Jay, I thought it was about time to do that." But I am working on starting this and helping people with ways to increase their small business potential. I will still do some of this every so often, so it is still going to be around, I think that it will be fun and exciting. So keep checking the blog out and my other blog, Denton City Nights. I hope that you all have been finding spots and new places. There is soooooo much going on here in Denton. Our city council has done a lot to bring new business in and show the world what Denton can do. I am proud to be a Dentonite. With my guys at Armadillo Ale Works now have a beer in Kroger and VOTED the top new brewery in Dallas area, and new places such as East Side Social Club, Oak Street Draft House, Last Drop Tavern, oh how the face of Denton has changed. But always for the good. Check it out, let people know about Denton, TX, the best small town you ever will drive through. 

Here Comes The Summer... Deck It!

So, I was talking with my wife the other day, we were thinking about all the places that have a deck or outside seating here in Denton. I realized there are so many places around the area that are great for sitting outside and relaxing with a great beverage, some food, or both. With that in mind, I decided to review a few spots we have been to and have enjoyed over the years when thinking about this great weather, some bars, restaurants, and local spots that have some great outside areas that make the summer experience even better.

My number one outside spot is most likely Oak Street Draft House and Cocktail Parlor, where outside is the best seating and you can find some great drinks to cool off. Their outside seating feels more like a beer garden seating, with picnic style tables along with old cable spools turned into tables, chairs all over the place for lots of room. The owner, John Williams, has taken the Denton local feeling of a house party and turned it into a bar. With fun drinks including ones that have cucumber and other fresh flavors, look at their cocktail menu for flavors that you can definitely cool down with and relax. Now don't forget to download their app on your phone to figure out what you want to have, with over 70 plus taps, it can get intimidating. With that said, they rotate out great seasonal beers that will have you trying many different flavors. Also, they have the local favorite on tap, Armadillo Ale Works Quakertown Stout.  And don't forget, John doesn't mind if you grab some grub and bring it in, they have some menus from Mellow Mushroom and Weinberger's Deli available if you get hungry while you are there.

Speaking of Mellow Mushroom, this has to be my second favorite place. With a decent selection of beer and great pizza, their outside patio with a relaxing fireplace is a place to check out. Their artisan pizza is one of the best. With a unique decor and a fun atmosphere, this place is somewhere I frequent. With my friends or just me and my wife, we love this place. Great food and drinks to satisfy your pizza cravings.

Another fun local place is Hoochie's Oyster House, which has a great deck area. With good food, this place is somewhere to check out during the summer. Also, they host DentonRadio.com and local musicians on the deck that will serenade your time there. They have great seafood favorites at a decent price, oysters when in season, fish, shrimp, and combo platters that is great on a summer day. 

So, for all you out there, keep watching the blog to find new places. I will be posing about the best summer places and experiences. Keep an eye out, and check out some of the places this summer. Have a great one and keep cool.

Polka, Jazz, and Pottery

What do these things have in common? For those of you who know, it is the time for the Denton Art and Jazz Fest. Everyone has been trying to copy this but no one has been able to get that right amount of fun. Starting today, Friday April 26, through Sunday, April 28, is the spring festival that happens every year at Quakertown Park in Denton. With art and craft dealers, music, food and fun. So much to see with so little time, I have been year in and year out and figured out to go and look at the booths for the art and section it out. Get some food in and then sit and relax and listen to some of the great music. 

Now, on Friday is six time Grammy award winner David Sanborn, a jazz legend that has been around as long as I have been alive. Then on Saturday night, the main attraction is the infamous Blues Brothers Band, need I say more? OK well the iconic figures that were first started by SNL veterans the late John Belushi and Dan Akroyd, they are still alive straight from NYC. Also, try to get in on the grand finale with Brave Combo who is currently set on playing five fests in two days, that's right two days. Now of course, UNT always has their Grammy award winning One O'Clock Jazz Band, who is always fun to listen to. THere are some great acts on the smaller stages, one of which is on Saturday at 6, Fingerprints, who have a nice laid back feel for those who just like to sit and listen. So check out all there is and try and move around the stages to see all of the great music.

So, to recap, Denton Art and Jazz Fest, April 26 (that's today) through Sunday April 29th with food, music, fun, kid stuff, art, you name it. David Sanborn, Blues Brothers, Brave Combo. Anyone caught saying there is nothing to do this weekend in Denton will be slapped, okay, just reminded about Jazz fest. But come out, bring friends, have fun, be safe and remember to participate in the largest hokey pokey in Texas. Have fun. 

Oh, the Excitement....

Well, a few notes for this week for all of you looking to do something. The Denton Square is having some visitors from Good Morning Texas, they are filming on Wednesday April 24 for a show they will be doing on May 2nd. They will be out at around 11:30 am -1 pm getting some stock footage. Next is the weekend most Dentonites look forward to all year, Jazz Fest. The stage is going up and the weather is looking great for the shows, I know I am excited to see The Blues Brothers' Band Perform with one of the original band members there. I just loved the movie. 

Well, hope to see everyone there on Sunday night for Brave Combo.

Have fun and be safe.

She's a Killer... Queenie's

Well, I had to check out what chef Tim Love was thinking when he shut the doors to one of my personal favorite burger places The Love Shack off the Denton square. When I then saw the new look and a big "Q" on the door, it got me wondering. Well, the wondering is over and I took my wonderful wife out to Queenie's.
This new steak house has some wonderful  food and great concept to spice up the neighborhood. I still wonder about the valet parking, but that is just me. They have a great selection of steaks and entree's. There is something for everyone there and is a very unique time. The price can go high quick, but the service and the quaint atmosphere is worth it. With a more intimate dining experience, it is one that everyone need to check out at some point. My favorite was the sides, big enough where you could have enough to taste and some to take home. The Cream Spinach and Kale is awesome and is great to take home and use on a baked potato. The desert was out of this world, with a cherry serrano spice pie under a homemade cinnamon ice cream, it was wonderful.
My take, even though this might be out of the ordinary for Denton, it is something that could put it on the map. With an atmosphere that competes with some of the more fancy steak houses and a menu to match, this place just works.

And as always, tip your servers well, they work for those.

Bright Lights... Denton City!

Well, it has been a little while since I have posted anything here. I have been looking around and seeing more things filling up empty business fronts, some around the square, others away from the square but still close by. A few things that are changing just outside the square in Denton are two new places, one in the old Ramen Republic and the other is the old Love Shack location. The other is where the old Miguelito's use to be. There is now a taco place, The Rusty Taco, where Ramen Republic was, a place called 'Q' took over the Love Shack location, and Boss's Pizza is replacing Miguelito's.  

I am seeing some interesting things and am hopeful that we see some good progress here in Denton. I will return and try some of these places to let you know how they are.

God Bless