How Your Kids Can Learn a New Language

What a great New Year's Resolution! I was really excited about this because my kids have been wanting to learn Spanish.

A program called Lango now has classes in Pflugerville starting in January. You can get the full scoop on their website.

But to summarize...Instead of a semester class, the company will have a 10-week session which begins January 5 and runs until the week of March 9th, ending just before Spring Break. Another 10-week session will begin after Spring Break and run through the end of May.

A 10% discount and waived registration fee of $35 is still available until December 31st. As always, a free trial class is available. Registrations for subsequent enrollments will also receive discounts.

Classes available for immediate registration during Session I (Jan to Mar) are: Combo Spanish (ages 1-5) on Tuesdays at 10:30, After-school Spanish (ages 5-9) on Thursdays at 4:00 and After-school Mandarin (ages 5-9) on Fridays at 4:00. All currently available classes are located in Pflugerville at the Joyful Expression studio on Grand Avenue Parkway.

A Taste of Ethiopia

I've lived a lot of places and am ashamed to say I have never tried Ethiopian food. Who knew that Pflugerville would bring my first Ethiopian restaurant experience?

The Taste of Ethiopia opened just over a month ago in a small shopping center on Grande Avenue. It was the sign promoting a vegetarian lunch buffet (served 11am-2pm) that drew us in, but they do have several meat items on the menu.

The friendly owner greeted us at the door and served us. She gave us a good overview of the offerings and told us how to eat it community-style. Individual plates and utensils are available upon request, but the best way is to go with some one you like and do it right.

First came a giant plate covered with injera, which is a crepe-like bread. Then she brought out small bowls of things like smashed lentils, split peas, green beans and carrots, greens, and eggplant. We served samples up on the breaded plate, and then used our individual injera rolls to tear off a piece, place over what we wanted, and scoop up to eat. Every offering had a unique, full flavor. We were told everything was made with love and we believe it.

A Taste of Ethiopia is open 7 days a week, 11am-10pm.

Holiday Meals

So maybe you missed out on the deadline to pre-order your Thanksgiving dinner from Super Target (click on the tab marked "Holiday Deli")--a yummy complete meal for 6-10 that's a bargain designed to introduce you to their mostly organic, high quality Archer Farms deli foods, complete with detailed serving instructions. Be sure to keep that in mind for Christmas!

But if you still want to have a proper and formal holiday meal but skip having to wash dishes, you can celebrate the day at Pflugerville's own European-Bistro, 111 East Main Street. They will be serving their Thanksgiving Menu from 11am to 9pm on Thursday, November 27th, 2008.

You can Make Reservations Online or call them at (512) 835-1919.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 28th through the 30th, their Thanksgiving Menu along with their Regular Menu will be available. A Children's Menu will also be featured.

Win-Win Christmas Ideas

Give your kids something to do and exercise their creativity, cross some items off your holiday shopping list, and support local businesses that make Pflugerville home. What could be better?

Need some suggestions?

* The Bead Choice, located on Pecan Street near the library. Come in and see what they have--it is not just beads. They have custom made jewelry, Longhorn jewelry, autism awareness jewelry, lanyard/name badge holders, key chains, bookmarks, and pens.

* Ceramics and More. Kids can paint ornaments for their teachers (purchase 3 ornaments and get the 4th free if you print out a coupon here), or make hand and foodprint items for grandparents. Make a plate to hold cookies for Santa. Its a great way to pass an afternoon!

Updates Out and About

A few miscellaneous notables recently:

1. The Cookie Haus has moved over a few blocks over to 104 Railroad Ave. Mention you saw their website and get 10% off an order of $10 or more.

2. The Water Tank has expanded its menu. Newly added includes salads, fish tacos, kids menu and more. Visit their website to see the full new menu.

3. You can sign up for coupons and special events updates from Ceramics and More.

4. Unfortunately they don't have a website, but the Green Bamboo restaurant at 1466 Grand Avenue Pkwy. has spiffed up and reopened under new management. The menu includes many Vietnamese and vegetarian options. Worth checking out!

The Pflugerville Cosmopolitan Area

My how things have changed in just the short time I've enjoyed living here. Pflugerville now has not just one but TWO Starbucks.

That speaks well of our fair town, but I'd still like to remind everyone that even better than having a Starbucks is having your own local independent coffee shops to hang out in. Blue Marble Java on Pecan Street has free wi-fi, live music, and yummy cappuccino chocolate chip muffins to go with your coffee or tea.

Also on Pecan but closer to downtown is the friendly drive-through option of Dazzle Coffee.

Recycling

I was channel-surfing the other night and when I flipped past the city channel, a notice "no longer accepting glass" caught my eye. So I checked the website and yep, there it is:

Newspaper – Placed in or beneath bin in a plastic bag so that paper cannot blow out. It is not necessary to remove inserts. NO wet newspaper, mail or office paper.

Plastics – Plastic drink jugs only. Please rinse and drain completely. Remove caps and rings and flatten. NO detergent, bleach, oil or antifreeze bottles.

Cans – Rinse and drain completely. NO aerosol cans of any type.

Glass – Glass is NO LONGER accepted for recycling.

What a waste.

I already take all our paper to one of the school collection sites. If anybody has any ideas of where to take glass please let me know and I'll post it here!

Hello Pizza

I had a chance to try out Pflugerville's new pizza place; Austin's Pizza has opened next to the Tinseltown movie theater.

The inside was clean and bright but a little noisy, so we might lean towards take-out next time. Our mixed group appreciated the less-traditional options on the menu such as whole wheat crust and soy cheese, and the longer-than-usual list of available toppings meant everyone got what they wanted.

If you aren't already familiar with Austin's Pizza, visit their website to check out their menu and sign up for emailed coupons.

Goodbye to Greek

I'll be starting this blog with a sad goodbye to the Greek Pita House, which is in the process of closing its doors in the Windermere Plaza so that the owners can open a restaurant in a larger location closer to their house.

(For those with time to make the trek, the new restaurant will be called Zakia's Greek Cuisine and is expected to open on October 17 in the Artisan Center at 8701 West Parmer Lane, between Anderson Mill Road and FM 620).