TexasTripper Travel Blog

Gidding Hosts Texas Word Wrangler Festival

The 3rd Annual Texas Word Wrangler Festival is scheduled for September 12 at the Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center at 276 N. Manse. This free event (scheduled from 9am-5pm) will feature twenty-six authors to read from their books, discuss their creative inspiration, and sign books.

The night before the event, the library will host a "Meet the Authors" fundraiser at the Giddings Public Library.

Events: Events and activities during the two days include:

-- "Meet the Author" Gala Event - Thursday, September 11, 2008 (tickets available at Library)
-- Book signing event with known children and adult authors and poets
-- Walk-in Coffee (Breakfast & Lunch items, free-will donation) sponsored by the Giddings New Horizons Lions Club
-- Door Prizes
-- 26 Authors in one place at one time
-- "Wheel of Fortune" Game

Authors: Texas Authors attending the event include:

• Gina Batie
• Kelly Bennett
• Thomas Blacklock
• Robert Costelloe
• Larry Dowell
• A. F. Ebbers
• Joyce Gustafson
• Lila Guzman
• Martha Hannah
• Jan Siegel Hart
• Mike Kearby
• Sherri Knight
• Debra Frontiera
• Doug Hiser
• Jeanine McGregor
• Pierce Burns
• Kimberly Burgess Taylor
• Bob Lawrence
• Larry Locha
• Joan Neubauer
• Catherine Rice
• Tweed Scott
• Robert Spoede
• Larry Turner
• Kathy Whitehead
• Nelson Zoch
• Mary Sue Zoch
  

For More Information:
• call the Library at 979-542-2716
• call the Gidding Chamber at 979-542-3455
• visit http://www.giddingstx.com

Labels: Festivals, Prairies and Lakes

posted by Paris & John @ 2:31 PM 0 comments links to this post

LBJ Ranch Opens to Visitors

Today marks the 100th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson's birth, an event that's been celebrated by the opening of the "Texas White House" to the public for the very first time.

Johnson's office has been restored to its 1960s look and now visitors can step into the office on the west side of the home for a look at this room that served as a power center during Johnson's administration. Ranger-led tours also include the LBJ Ranch airplane hangar where the President once held news conferences.

Also, the park is also allowing private vehicles on the ranch for the first time. You'll first need to get a vehicle permit at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site visitor center.

We're going to do this in September because the test is only lasting through September 30. After that time, the National Park Service will evaluate how the experiment went and decide if they'll continue to allow visitors to drive. During this test period, the park will not be operating the ranger bus tours.

Labels: Hill Country

posted by Paris & John @ 4:55 PM 0 comments links to this post

Austin's Batfest Moves to 1st Street Bridge

Batfest, the popular Austin festival that celebrates the city's famous bat colony, has moved this year. The festival, scheduled this upcoming weekend for Saturday from 2pm until midnight and Sunday from 2pm until 10pm, will be held on the 1st Street Bridge between Cesar Chavez and Riverside Drive.

In the past, the festival was held on Congress Avenue Bridge--now renamed the Ann Richards Bridge--which is the home of the country's largest urban bat colony. However, the traffic backup caused by the popular festival has resulted in its being moved to the next bridge over which will still provide good viewing of the 1.5 million bats when they head out at sunset.

Admission to the festival is $5 at the gate; kids 10 and under are free with an adult.

The event includes two days of live music with stages on the north and south ends of the bridge. This year's performers include Edgar Winter, Flobots, the BoDeans, and many others.

Related page: Batfest

Labels: Austin, Festivals

posted by Paris & John @ 1:23 PM 0 comments links to this post

Driskill Celebrates Open House on August 30

Austin's 122-year-old Driskill Hotel is is celebrating the completion of a $4 million renovation of its 189 guest rooms with A Taste of The Driskill from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 30. The event will include:

• live music
• samplings from the Driskill Grill and 1886 Café & Bakery menus
• wine tasting
• children’s activities
• ghost tours of the hotel
• exhibits of “Driskill Love Stories” and of original artwork of the iconic hotel
• a Texas Tailgate party at the Driskill Bar to celebrate opening game day for the UT Longhorns
• the Driskill Pie Bake-off as local food journalists and chefs select a winning recipe to feature on the 1886 Café & Bakery’s menu as the restaurant’s signature pie for the next year
• proclamation of “Driskill Day in Austin” at 10am
• a birthday cake honoring the 100th birthday of President Lyndon Johnson, one of many celebrity guests that graced the hotel's roster through the years. LBJ and Lady Bird had their first date at The Driskill. Over the years, he awaited the returns from all his campaigns, including historic wins on the ticket with John Kennedy and then as the presidential nominee himself, at the hotel.

Labels: Austin

posted by Paris & John @ 3:03 PM 0 comments links to this post

Buying Football and Other Texas Sports Tickets?

If we all don't melt first, it will soon be football season and, as you know, that's a big subject in Texas.

We've just launched a new page on TexasTripper with links to purchase sports tickets to NFL and college games (as well as baseball, basketball, hockey, NASCAR, and even concert tickets).

Please help support TexasTripper--and find tickets for events you might think are already sold out--by checking our Texas Sports Tickets page.

Labels: TexasTripper News

posted by Paris & John @ 7:04 AM 0 comments links to this post

81008: Taylor BBQ Cookoff Set for Next Weekend

It's almost time again for the Annual Taylor International Barbeque cookoff, now in its 31st year. This year's event is scheduled for August 15 and 16, 2008 at Murphy Park in Taylor. Along with the cookoff, look for an arts and crafts show and carnival.

Gates open Saturday with judging of the meats and showmanship at noon with results announced around at 5:00 p.m.

Check out our online photo gallery for shots from last year's event as well as a video with photos from the very popular cookoff.

Labels: Barbecue, Festivals

posted by Paris & John @ 3:07 PM 0 comments links to this post

8808: View Perseid Meteor Shower at the George Observatory

If you'll be in the Houston area next week, here's a unique chance to view the annual Perseid meteor shower. The George Observatory, a satellite facility of the Houston Museum of Natural Science that's located at Brazos Bend State Park, will be hosting an all-night meteor viewing party on its observatory deck. Held from 9 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11 through dawn on Tuesday, Aug 12, the meteors will start to come into view about 10pm on Monday but later in the night, they'll appear more frequently.

Admission: Brazos Bend State Park will allow entrance on the evening of Aug. 11 and the morning of Aug. 12 for the meteor shower. There is a $5 per person charge to enter the park; admission is free for children under the age of 12. Don't forget to bring a lawn chair, mosquito repellant, snacks and a blanket.

Viewing through volunteer telescopes on the observatory’s observation deck is free. You can also purchase a ticket to view the night sky through the 36-inch Gueymard Telescope (photo, left) – one of the largest in the country available for public viewing; tickets will be available from 9 p.m. through midnight for $5 per person.

Location: To reach the park, take U.S. 59 South pas Sugar Land, to the Crabb River Road exit. Turn left and follow the brown signs to the park.

For more information:
• call 281-242-3055
• visit the George Observatory website

Photos courtesy Houston Museum of Natural Science

Labels: Gulf Coast

posted by Paris & John @ 12:03 PM 0 comments links to this post