All-Tex Exteriors -GAF/ELK Preferred Contractor

All-Tex Exteriors is a preferred contractor for GAF/ELK. Whether you are located in Austin, TX or Houston, TX metro areas, All-Tex Exteriors can repair or replace your roof.

We use exclusively GAF/ELK products for a top quality roof and attractive appearance. With the GAF/ELK preferred contractor warranty, you are assured of many years of top performance and good looks.

Call All-Tex for more information: Austin 866-921-5718 or Houston 866-921-5715.

in reference to: Shingle Styles and Colors (view on Google Sidewiki)

Improving Local Search Results

If you are a small business owner of a local shop or service business, this is a "must do"!

Google has a service called Google Places. Google Places is the Local Map advertising space that shows up at the top of your search results when you include a local term in your search.

By local term, I mean adding either the city and state or the zip code to your search terms. When you do that the map will usually show up.

If you have a Google Account, you could get yourself on the map for free but, it does take some time to do so. Plus, you may not know how to do keyword research on the internet to determine which keywords will result in the most new clients. Getting the maximum number of new clients is important, isn't it?

When you have an expert such as enLocal do the work for you it saves you time and gets more customers more quickly. This is because you'll probably need to tweak it for weeks to get the best results where as an expert that is trained in Search Engine Optimization can do it right the first time.

Time is Money, right? How about if you concentrate on closing more sales from all the new clients you will get and let the experts do the other stuff!

If you are in North East Harris County, TX, visit http://www.topofgooglelocal.com and consider calling ATX Global LLC of Houston/Kingwood to get you on the map.

You'll be glad you did!

in reference to: Local Google Search | Houston Search Optimization | Top of Google Houston (view on Google Sidewiki)

Google Side Wiki

I am enjoying the Google Toolbar and Side Wiki. I was previously very "anti-toolbar"! But, now I see several useful benefits.

Also, check out http://www.mattseo.com if you are interested in SEO topics. Search Engine Optimization, for those that don't know the acronym. SEO helps your website and blog get found on the internet. Matt Waterman has a good site on the topic. Check it out.

in reference to: Google Sidewiki – New Tool – Side wiki Install (view on Google Sidewiki)

Love Crave Cupcakes!

We recently went here for the third time. We have never been disappointed. The cupcakes are awesome and are really fresh.

With the traffic levels they get, I would guess the cupcakes never make it to maybe an hour old.

Chocolate cake with chocolate icings is always my favorite. We have also had some incredible lemon ones too. I'm glad to see they are opening a West U location this summer.

This is a must try dessert experience!

in reference to: Welcome to Crave Cupcakes (Houston, Texas) (view on Google Sidewiki)

Enjoyed it!

My wife and I recently were in the Uptown area of Houston and were looking for a place to eat. I use Yelp a lot to find places...I just drive to a location and turn on Yelp on my iPhone. It is a great tool.

So, we read the review of Ciao Bello and decided to check it out.

It's in a strip mall but once you enter the dark solid wood entry doors, you are entering a chic and fashionably upscale interior. The bar are is really attractive ad all the dining area is behind the bar. There is a patio dining area too.

Service was beyond what I was expecting. We had no less than 5 people attending to us when we sat down. A different person helped my wife and myself with our chair and our napkin!

Everything lived up to our immediate impression. Food was excellent and service remained excellent. Yelp had a 2 star rated price...it's not. Its' more like 3 stars. Dinner entrees starting in the mid teens and into the high $20 range. We spent about $80 without getting dessert...just dinner and a glass of wine each.

The food and experience is worth it though. Check it out.

in reference to: Ciao Bello | Italian Food | Italian Restaurant | Houston, Texas (view on Google Sidewiki)

Berripop in Humble

There is one of these that opened recently on 1960 in Humble. Going to definitely get out to this soon. I do miss the Kingwood TCBY that closed in 2008 but, they were kind of boring compared to Twist and now (Berripop from what I hear).

in reference to: Berripop Frozen Yogurt - Google Maps (view on Google Sidewiki)

Twist is Awesome

We try to get out to Twist once a week. You can self serve and they charge by the ounce.

There is usually 6-8 different flavors and you can swirl some together or just mix from any of them. My favorite is the tart with chocolate or the tart with raspberry. There are about a dozen topping to choose from too! Enjoy!

in reference to: Twist Yogurt Delight - Google Maps (view on Google Sidewiki)

Great Family of Restaurants

Our favorite Pappas restaurants are the Pappas Seafood Kitchen in Humble and the Pappadeux Cajun in the Champions Forest area.

One of my favorites at Pappas Seafood Kitchen is the Shimp and Jumbo Lump Crab salad along with a bowl of seafood gumbo. Delicious.

in reference to: Pappas Seafood House (view on Google Sidewiki)

Best Wine Opener - Wine Tool Kit - Gift set

A lot of people ask me what type of wine opener I use. My answer is: "it depends".

When on a picnic or if I have brought wine to a hotel it is usually just the Aso prong type opener. It's easy to pack and easy to use.

When at home though, my approach is a little more elegant. I am a tool person! My garage is filled with the latest power tools. I'm a handyman so I enjoy rechargeable power tools and saws.

Would I ever use a reciprocating saw to open a bottle of wine...no! That's for trimming studs out of a wall and other rough cut situations.

For wine opening at home, I prefer the Rabbit. It is quick, easy and hardly ever (once in 5 years) destroys a cork - unlike the old cork screw! I highly recommend this tool kit sold at Amazon and if you have any wine connoisseurs with birthdays or anniversaries coming up, this is a great affordable gift.

It comes in it's own hinged box case, has a foil cutter, drip ring, bottle sealer, was remover and an extra cork screw "worm". I've added a convenient link to Amazon below.



Since I am a power tool guy, I might add another wine opener to my "tool belt". This next one is an electric spin on the Rabbit type opener. I like it because most of my power tools have NIMH rechargeable batteries and that is what powers this jewel. The specs say it opens as many as 80 bottles with one charge and opens synthetic corks as easily as natural cork. This one is in stainless steel which will look great on the counter of most modern kitchens. It's from Waring which is a great brand you can rely on. Here is a convenient Amazon link:

Wine bar list in Houston, TX

I ran across this gem today. It is on a new entertainment site that was something I clicked on off of the Chron site.

I have visited a few wine bars in Houston and surrounding areas. A few of my favorites is Cru in The Woodlands, Dave's Wine Dive in The Heights and Cork in Webster/Friendswood. I'll be hitting some of these and blogging about them soon.

And now, The List...err I mean link:
http://www.29-95.com/bars-clubs/list/favorite-bars-glass-vino

Take a look and enjoy. If you have experiences and feedback from any of them please add your comments. It really does not have to be in Houston either. You can rant about your favorite wine spot anywhere in the world!

12 Zins of Lodi - Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel

This is one of my favorite wine sites and the article is about the selection process for the 12 Zins of Lodi. Zins of Lodi

Swirll Winery and Wine Bar Dallas, TX

Swirll Winery and Wine bar - Great place in old downtown area of Dallas.
We recently spent a night in Dallas and wandered around the old town area of Main Street.

The area is populated by nice restaurants, hotels (We stayed at The Joule, which was fantastic!) and a great winery and wine bar called Swirll.

We wandered and found a delightfully upscale decorated wine bar. At the time we were there they were having a special book signing party but were still open for the public.

We sat at a cozy candlelit table near the fireplace and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

One of the wines we had was surprising very close to Lodi Vineyards Earthquake Zinfandel. Swirll buys famous appellation grapes and makes their own private label wine from the grapes. The wine we had was called "Old Vines Zinfandel" and it was really fantastic. They did a great job replicating one of my favorite wines.

Service was very good, the prices are great and we highly recommend a visit. We bought a bottle of the zin to enjoy on the pool deck of The Joule and also bought an ice wine to bring home with us. The ice wine was also very good but, hey this is a Zinfandel blog!

When in Dallas, you must stop by Swirll. Check out their website too as they do sell to some states online.

Cheers!

Michael David Lodi Vineyards Lust Zinfandel

Lust Zinfandel has to be one of my favorites!

We opened a couple bottles of Lust Zinfandel for Christmas and New Years. It always amazes me how delicious this wine is!

Fruity and silky smooth is the way I describe it. Strong chocolate flavors with cherry and other berry notes. It is on the sweet side so besides dinner, we have it with desserts. Last night it was with apple pie a-la-mode. Delicious compliment with the apples.

This is a highly recommended wine in the $35 price range. Not cheap but, definitely worth it.

Here is a link to their winery store.