Tyler TX Facebook

Follow Donny on Twitter

Username:
Password:
  Remember Me   Forgot password?  Register
0-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

Four Winds Faire

December 15th, 2010

The Four Winds Faire is most definitely the strangest place in East Texas. It is a way to get away from the normal chaos of everyday and step back into the renaissance time period. March, April, and October are full of special events, but the park is opened Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am-7:00pm. The faire has many different attractions, shows, vendors, camp sites, and much more.

If you enjoy camping in the great outdoors and waking up to the smell of cooking bacon and eggs over the camp fire you had slept by that night, than you probably will not like the camp grounds of the Four Winds Faire. If you are a fan of sleeping in a colorful renaissance looking tent on freshly cut grass right next to another family you have never met also in a colorful tent than you may enjoy the camp grounds here. Camp fires are not allowed just anywhere. They have designated areas that are for camp fires. The whole camp ground is equipped restrooms and showers with hot water. You can also bring out the RV; the campgrounds have all the hookups for an RV.

Four Winds Faire has all different performers that come and put on a show. They have everything from armored knights, fire eaters, magicians, musicians, jugglers, pirates and much more. What is a renaissance faire without the comedy of singing nuns? Breaking The Habit is the comedy nun show that is put on at the renaissance faire. The exotic belly dancers show off their body and talent of shaking everything at their show Dream Harem. There are so many entertaining acts at the faire, but I do not know if they are always entertaining for the right reasons. You can not have a good renaissance faire without the popular sport of jousting. Come watch these guys who proclaim to be knights ram into each other with giant sticks while riding on horse back. The jousts are preformed twice daily at 12:00 and again at 5:00.

If you have always wished that there would be a joust at your wedding and Renaissance music you can have wedding at Four Winds Faire. Have you always wanted to walk down the aisle lined with knights with swords? Than this is the place for your big day. Four Winds takes care of many details including menus for your reception and decorations for your ceremony. The weddings are held at the Grove Wedding Garden, and you and you are soon to be spouse can look through the many different renaissance costumes that fit best for your wedding attire. This is a very interesting way to have your wedding, and your guests will remember your wedding.

Outside food is not allowed on the faire grounds, but you can bring alcohol, is it is contained in a mug or flask. You can also bring weapons as long as it is part of your renaissance attire and tied to your side. There is security on the grounds to make sure people are following the guide lines of the faire. So if you are looking for a way to get away from the year 2011 than Four Winds maybe you escape to a whole new world of knights, kings, queen, jesters, and all the royalty and commoners.

The Egg and I Restaurant in Tyler

April 8th, 2010

Egg and I breakfast in Tyler TX

The Egg and I

150 East 9th Street
Tyler Texas 75701
Phone: 903 592 3447

Open from 6am -2pm daily

The Egg and I is a wonderful place for a gourmet breakfast!

Any way you want it, they have eggs  – and the chefs are definitely eggsperts at serving them. Omelettes, frittatas, pancakes, eggs benedict, special skillets, Mexican variations on the egg theme and so on and so on. The choice is overwhelming (and delicious!) Call me old fashioned, but I ordered just plain crispy bacon and eggs – and they were cooked to perfection.  My friend had the Waffle Express breakfast and the children had scrambled eggs and bacon with an English muffin. Thumbs up all round! Hearty but manageable portions, everything fresh and hot, and bottomless cups of lovely Hazelnut coffee to wash it all down. Perfect..

The service could not be faulted. From the moment we entered and were seated to our final goodbye from the server, we were treated to polite, rapid and friendly service.

The place itself is really nice – very clean, light and airy and decorated really tastefully . There are 2 rooms, one of which can be reserved for parties. I love the outdoor seating area on the ‘patio’ and the fact that they play classical music and serve everything without using anything plastic or disposable. You feel quite pampered eating breakfast here – this is no truck stop!

The menu is extensive for breakfast. I should note that there are many things which aren’t eggy and some healthy options like fruit, oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies and wholemeal pancakes as well. Lunch is also served at the Egg and I and the choices include salads, sandwiches and soups. Here are some examples of the slightly different options: Veggie Greek Wrap, Chicken Apple Walnut sandwich on raisin bread and Fajita salad. The ‘triple play’ is a great option for the indecisive amongst us – it includes half a sandwich, a cup of soup and a half salad! I would imagine these items are made with the same expertise and attention to detail as the breakfasts.

Eating breakfast at the Egg and I will set you back around $10 a head including drinks. Children’s meals are $5. This may seem like quite a lot to spend on breakfast but it really is a very nice place to have breakfast and you might just find yourself relaxing here for most of the morning, getting your money’s worth in coffee!

One final comment – gift cards are available and all orders can be made ‘to go.’

Other restaurants like the Egg and I are the International House of Pancakes and The Diner.

The Egg and I in Tyler TX

Petty’s Steak and Catfish in Lindale TX

March 23rd, 2010

PETTY’S STEAK AND CATFISH

309 N Main Street
Lindale TX 75771
903-882-9510

Petty’s is a very local establishment, located just North of downtown Lindale. It is more than a café, but not quite a restaurant, serving Texan style breakfast, lunch and dinner.

As you walk in you will be greeted by a cheery hello from the friendly staff. There are 2 rooms with seating at booths or larger tables. The walls are covered with black and white photos of Lindale from years past and a longhorn skull is on the wall facing you. To complete the picture, the clientele (mainly men and older folk) wear a mixture of baseball caps and cowboy hats and Western music plays softly.

Petty’s has quite a following – we went for breakfast and the place was almost full. There were 7 breakfast specials to chose from with items like hashbrowns, omelettes, breakfast tacos, pancakes and bacon and eggs to name but a few. They were reasonably priced and served with a free bottomless cups of coffee. My daughter was impressed with her huge stack of doughy pancakes served with butter and warmed maple syrup. The service was prompt and friendly. It looked like the servers were well appreciated with tips which could be because they know many of their customers from previous visits.

For lunch and dinner you can chose from burgers, steak, chicken and shrimp. All are traditionally cooked, Southern style – perhaps not very healthy but very delicious. There are also lighter options like salad (the chicken fajita salad sounds good) and various sandwiches. Appetizers include onion rings, cheese sticks and nachos. Each day there are also specials – regulars for each day of the week – like ribeye steak on a Wednesday, and catfish on Friday, plus additional home cooked items which vary each day. When we were there the specials were meatloaf and chicken fried steak. All dinners include a salad from the salad bar, a baked potato or fries and hot fresh bread. Entrees range from $5 to – $15.99 which is the most expensive option – the steak dinner (less expensive on it’s ‘special’ day). The average price is probably $8. Iced water is brought to your table and there is the usual iced tea, fountain drinks and coffee to drink. It is not licensed to serve alcohol. Children’s meals for the under 12s consist of grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken tenders for $2.99 (sadly no vegetables included).

Pettys offers nothing out of the ordinary in the way of cuisine but the food is good Southern comfort food and obviously popular with the Lindale locals and Tyler residents, particularly men – who aren’t watching the calories they consume! As for myself, I think it is a great place to eat breakfast or to take the kids once in a while. I can’t say that I will frequent it but it will certainly be on my radar!