Posts filed under 'park'
Christmas Lights…a whole bunch of them…and more
Santa’s Wonderland is opening for the season tonight (November 20th, 2009). If you’ve been before, there are many exciting additions for your return visit. If you’ve never been, it’s worth a trip.
The park opens daily at 6pm from November 20th until December 31st.
Check the website at www.santas-wonderland.com for live music schedule, food menu, prices and advanced tickets.
New Visitors:
Advanced tickets: With a discount if you buy online at Santas-Wonderland.com
2.5 Million Lights: Yeah, a bunch of lights. Nothing like you’ll see strung on anyone’s house. There’s a river of lights, a couple of tunnels of lights, some animations created with lights, houses covered with lights. Lots of “OOH’s” and “AAH’s”.
Hayrides: A trailer with hay on it driving through the park. Really nice view of everything.
Horse and Carriage Ride: This is what I think is the Crowning Jewel. The ride is so romantic and nostalgic and cool. Don’t miss this. It’s really nice. Two huge black horses lead a large carriage that fits up to 9 people.
Food: Loads of food…from nachos to kettle corn to hot chocolate.
Live Music: From Country to Elvis to a full choir. Live music every night.
Petting Zoo: Yes, there’s even a petting zoo.
Mechanical Bull: And a mechanical bull. I wonder what Santa’s record is.
Christmas Stores: Everything from ornaments to stocking stuffers.
Fun: Something to remember and make a tradition to come back every year.
Returning Visitors:
Advanced tickets: With a discount if you buy online at Santas-Wonderland.com
More parking: In fact, parking across the HWY and a shuttle to get you to the park.
Horse and Carriage option: They have added a Horse and Carriage ride, and let me tell you, I’ve been on the Hayride and on the Horse and Carriage, and hands down, the Horse and Carriage ride is the best. Really captures the feel of the season and the park. I just loved it. You won’t regret it.
More Lights: More lights are up this year, and a few new “scenes” to enjoy.
Funnel Cakes: Yeah, and they are really tasty.
More Food: Check the website for the new menu.
Go check it out.
Add comment November 20, 2009
Bryan, College Station Election Day 2008 Results
…more than 58,567 Brazos County residents voted in Tuesday’s election for the nation’s 44th president. Of those voters, more than 20,459, or 35 percent, voted for Obama, while John McCain received 37,403, or 64 percent of the ballots.
Those numbers aren’t surprising in a community that’s home to the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum as well as Texas A&M, nor were the local results rare for a state that traditionally votes conservative.
Across the Bryan-College Station area Tuesday, many kept up with the televised exit polls and news reports that had Obama leading almost all day. Race was hardly mentioned, though. Instead, residents talked about a need for a change in the way the U.S. government is run and the way economic policies are carried out.
Although more local residents voted Republican than Democrat this year, many interviewed by The Eagle on Election Day expressed excitement over the race and a desire for a president who would improve what’s in place now.
Brazos County Clerk Karen McQueen said 58,567 of the county’s 93,000 registered voters cast ballots this round. That’s about the same number that voted in 2004. Obama garnered 5 percentage points more than the Democratic presidential candidate in that presidential election.
Election officials had expected high turnout Tuesday because a record-breaking number of people had cast ballots during early voting. Of the 34,136 who voted during the weeks before Election Day, 62.77 percent voted for McCain and 36.19 percent voted for Obama.
1 comment November 5, 2008
Bond Election November 4th
Early voting is from October 20th through the 31st. If you vote early, you don’t need to go to your regular polling station. The early voting stations are as follows:
Brazos County Courthouse – 300 E. 29th
Arena Hall – Tabor Rd & N. Earl Rudder
Galilee Baptist Church – 804 N. Logan
Grace Bible Church – 101 Harvey Mitchell
Memorial Student Center – Campus
Here’s a google map with these locations.
Most of these places will be open from 8:00am to at least 5:00PM. More info here.
So, along with goverment official voting, there are some propositions we need to vote about.
Proposition 1: Streets and transportation – Proposing $48,785,000 for various street and transportation projects, including: an extension of Jones Butler road to accommodate for Student traffic, new traffic signals throughout the city, extending Victoria Drive, Barron Road widening, Hike Bike Trail Completion, extension of Barron Road, installing sidewalks throughout the city, widening Rock Prairie Rd West, Lick Creek Hike Bike Trail construction and University Dr. Pedestrian Improvements.
Proposition 2: Library Improvements – $8,385,000 for expanding parking and adding a 15,256 sq ft extension at Larry J. Ringer Library.
Proposition 3: Fire Safety Improvements – $6,990,000 for building Fire Station #6 at University and Tarrow.
Proposition 4: Park improvements – $12,790,000 for park building improvements including Creekview Neighborhood Park, various other park needs, Lincoln Center addition of parking spaces, pavillion, backstop and an 8,000-10,000 sq ft extension, and Central Park Improvements. Also including more money for Lick Creek (see prop 1), a Skate Park (that would be cool), Est District Maintenance Shop replacement, Purchasing of neighborhood parks in advance of development and a nature center at Lick Creek.
Proposition 5: Community Center – $7,050,000 for a new community center off Krenek Tap Road.
Proposition 6: New City Hall – $26,300,000 fo the envisioned 4-story, 69,568 sq ft building at Krenek Tap and Texas Avenue.
Click here to download the Bond Proposition Brochure in PDF format (from cstx.gov)
The brochure explains the anticipated duration of these projects…for example, the new City Hall will start in 2009 and finish in 2012. The skate park with start in 2009 and finish in 2010. University Drive Improvements will sart in 2013 and finish in 2015.
The brochure also explains the impact on the tax rate. It explains that ONE CENT of the tax rate would generate approximately $495,000. A one cent increase will affect the total taxes on a $100,000 home by $10.00 annually. The expenditures of Prop 1-5 won’t affect the tax rate, although the maintenance costs could increase the tax rate in the future. Prop 6 (the new city hall) will likely increase the tax rate by 4.5 cents. So we’re looking at around $50.00 annually on a $100,000 home at least until 2012.
If you live in College station, you probably received the “VOTE FOR YOUR FUTURE” brochure in the mail, so check it out…it’s more detailed than my post here…or click the link above and download the brochure.
Personally, I THink all these improvements would be good…even if it means an increase in property tax.
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Oh, and Ben & Jerry’s is giving away a free Ice Cream Scoop if you go in to their store on November 4th between 8:00 and 5:00pm.
Ben & Jerry’s wants to thank you for voting by giving you a free scoop of ice cream! Come to participating scoop shops on November 4th from 5-8pm, show us you voted and you’ll get a free scoop of ice cream. Show us your “I Voted” sticker, a photo of you in front of your polling station, do the “I Voted dance” or just tell us you voted.
Yay…free ice cream.
4 comments October 15, 2008
What to do on Your Anniversary
OK, so today is our 14th anniversary. We’ve got a few errands to run, and we’re down to 2 kids this week (the two older ones are with their grandmother).
We’ve decided not to have a babysitter and take the kids with us in whatever adventure happens tonight.
1. OK, first things first…I took out the trash. I also cut the fat off the chicken we were going to freeze. My wife’s love language is Acts of Service, so I think the day started well. Oh, and I gave her a card that said all the right stuff.
2. We need to go to the library because we have some overdue videos. (those are $1 each day they are overdue by the way).
3. Next thing we want to do is go to Hobby Lobby. We have this wooden elephant that kinda got handed down to my wife, but the tusks are gone. We looked up what the gift for the 14th anniversary is and the traditional gift is ivory. Well, last I heard, buying ivory is illegal, so we’re gonna go and see if we can find something that resembles 2-3 inch long elephant tusks. Maybe they’ll have a cool mirror on sale at like 80% of or something. (the modern 14th anniversary gift is Gold Jewelery and my wife doesn’t like gold. She likes nickel free! 
4. Starbuck’s Vanilla Latte. It’s right across the parking lot.
5. I’m thinking about Fish Taco’s at La Bodega. They have really yummy quesadillas and rice and beans for the kids and we can use one of our coupons.
5. Cafe Capri for their chocolate toffee mousse with kahlua. I think we are going to need a whole piece each…well, we’ll each share a few bites with each of our kids. I just took another look at their menu and I might be considering the Cajun Tortelini. Yum.
6. We will probably go to Post Oak Mall to Victoria’s Secret (me and the kids will be at the little soft play park in the food court). Leigh received a coupon in the mail for free Panties…yay!
7. We’ll hang out a little while at the soft play park in the mall. We like watching our kids play. Plus we’ll get to talk a little.
8. If we feel like we need to talk a little more, maybe we’ll go to Wolf Pan Creek walk around a bit…holding hands of course.
9. Maybe rent a Redbox movie. Unless we get our NetFlix rental arrives today…John & Kate plus Eight is coming next.
But first, I have to work making websites and graphics and logos and flash games and stuff.
jorge
Add comment October 1, 2008
What to do on the 4th of July, 2008
Well, my parents are coming in from San Antonio, and thought I’d post some of the things we’re considering, as well as some ideas as to what might be fun to do. We love when our parents come and visit.
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George Bush Library – July 4th
The George Bush Library hosts an Independence day celebration every year, and we’ve heard it’s fantastic. There’s a symphony, a band, an Elvis Impersonator, a magician, consssions, a fly-by of WWII planes, and of course, fireworks in he evening. Here’s a schedule from their website:
Schedule of Events:
• Concessions open at 5:00 p.m.
• Entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m.
• Presentation of Colors at 6:00 p.m.
• Fly Over at 6:30 p.m.
• Texas High Life band performs at 6:45 p.m.
• Magician Sneaky Pete Rizzo performs at 8:00 p.m.
• Elvis impersonator Jason Adams at 8:35 p.m.
• Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra begins concert at 9:00 p.m.
• Fireworks begin at 9:40 p.m.
• Grand Finale at 10:00 p.m.
Looks like you’ll need to park down the street and take a shuttle to the grounds.
Texas World Speedway (TWS website) July 5th
This is actually on Saturday, July 5th, so you can have a second day of Independence day fun.
This year, the Texas World Speedway is hosting a 4th of July celebration with a car show, a burn out competition, food, and firworks. It’s a free event that starts at 2PM and will go on till 9PM. The speedway is South on HWY 6. You’ll see the signs.
This event is to benefit the Fire Department. If you want to show your car or take part in the burnout competition, there is an entry fee. Check out their website for more info (although there’s not much there as of this post…maybe later this week).
City Pools – July 4th
The city pools will be open and apparently they are doing something as well. I can’t find much info on what they are doing, but they are doing something.
Elizabeth Lutheran Church in Caldwell – July 3rd
12th Annual Celebration & Fireworks Display
Jul 3, 2008 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Hwy 21 E & CR 307 In Caldwell
Elizabeth Lutheran Church will host a Community Wide Celebration of Fireworks Display. Enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, watermelon, drinks, bounce & slide, adrenaline rush maze, bingo, games, face painting, duck pond, silent auction, raffle & fireworks.
Free dance music by Southern Roots Band.
Free Admission.
Park and ride from Caldwell High School.
H-E-B Fireworks on the Brazos – July 4th
Washington, Texas
(take Hwy 6 to Navasota, then 105 West toward Washington)
Jul 4, 2008 7:00 pm
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Join the Star of the Republic Museum for H-E-B Fireworks on the Brazos. Celebrate the Nation’s independence at the last capital of the Republic of Texas. Free Blue Bell ice cream and Coca-Cola will be served starting at 7:00 pm.
Aquablast – July 5th
Jul 5, 2008 All Day
Bryan Aquatic Center
Fun for the whole family
$3 Admission
New Baden Jamboree – July 5th
5PM to 10PM – Free
New Baden Community Center
New Baden, Texas (out on Hwy 79)
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JJ’s SnoCones
These guys will NOT be open. (I just found this out, but they will be open on Saturday and Sunday regular hours.) Remember, the kiddie size is just 75¢. They’ve got some new flavors (Coke, Coke Float, Passion Fruit). Maybe you can ask for a red white and blue sno cone, like Wild Strawberry/Coconut/BlueBubbleGum, or Raspberry/Rum/CottonCandy. I am seriously considering trying a “Banana/Coke”. I know, that sounds crazy, but I’m crazy like that.
Tanglewood & Tiffany Park Splash Pads
The Splash Pads will be open and running. My family loves these.
Fireworks Warehouse
In Brazos County, fireworks known as “skyrockets with sticks” and “missiles with fins” have been banned, but other fireworks, such as sparklers and firecrackers, are still allowed.
The fireworks warehouse on South Hwy 6 (down the road from the Texas World Speedway – between College Station and Navasota) is only selling what is legally allowed to be used. I believe the artillery shells are not banned
Food
As far as food goes, We’ll see if my parents want to go back to Fish Tacos at La Bodega, or maybe burgers at the New Baden General Store…that will be a nice little drive.
Weather
Fri – July 4
Partly Cloudy
94°
Sat – July 5
Isolated Storms (I doubt it)
95°
Sun – July 6
Scattered T-Storms (I doubt this too, although it would be great)
95°
Now, Monday, it might rain…maybe.
Add comment June 29, 2008
