Northwest Austin Impacts — November 2008

Northwest Austin Impacts — November 2008

Friday, 28 November 2008

1. Gift shop

Accent Body and Abode opened Nov. 8 at 8650 Spicewood Springs Road, Ste. 201. The boutique sells accessories, jewelry, gifts and home décor items focusing on local artists. Call 552-1053.

2. Dental office moves

Silver Screen Dental recently moved from its office at 9901 Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. 255 to 11851 Jollyville Road, Ste. 201. It offers bleaching, cosmetic dentistry, invisalign straightening system and corrective dentistry. Call 345-8800 or visit www.silverscreendental.com.

3. High-tech gaming

An entertainment software company, Heatwave Interactive, opened a new office at 13809 Research Blvd., Ste. B-400. The company creates original, character-based games aimed to unite online gaming with traditional video games. Call 501-3600 or visit www.heatwaveinteractive.com.

4. Pakistani food

Tandoori Hut, a Pakistani-style restaurant serving tandoori and barbecue chicken, opened in September at 13717 N. MoPac, Ste. 300. The restaurant offers lunch and dinner buffets, which include both vegetarian and nonvegetarian selections. Weekend brunch includes items such as Halwa Puri, Aloo Choolay, Haleem and Nehari. Call 238-0500 or visit www.tandoorihutaustin.com.

5. Red light cameras

The City of Austin activated a red light camera Oct. 31 at the intersection of Howard Lane/Wells Branch Parkway and MoPac as part of the “Keep Austin Safe” red light camera program. The city also has lights at the IH 35 northbound service road and 11th Street, Riverside Drive and Pleasant Valley Road, IH 35 southbound service road and 15th Street, and MoPac southbound service road and Highway 290 eastbound. The locations of red light cameras were chosen by police and traffic engineering staff, primarily based on traffic and collision history. Visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/redlights/default.htm.

6. Jonesin’ for java?

Tonic Coffee Bar & Lounge recently opened inside the Artisan Apartments at 8701 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. 2128. It offers a spacious lounge with coffee, specialty drinks and free Wi-Fi. Curbside service is available between 6 and 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, and Artisan residents can have coffee delivered to their doorstep. A full bar will open in January 2009. Call 584-8225 or visit www.tonicloungeaustin.com.

7. Just for kicks

Austin Aztex, 13359 N. US 183, Ste. 401, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 7. The store is affiliated with a professional soccer team. The Aztex organization aims to build a vertically integrated community soccer club in the greater Austin area, develop a soccer stadium and have affiliate clubs in England and Mexico. Call 335-8881 or visit www.austinaztex.com.

8. Get inked

T3xture Modification, 9025 Research Blvd., Ste. 125, is a tattoo and piercing shop that offers luxury body modification. Call 531-9847 or visit www.t3xture.com.

9. Pizza delivery

Rockin’ Tomato Pizza Company opened another location Oct. 3 at 1921 Cedar Bend, Ste. A-120. The restaurant offers takeout and delivery of pizza, pasta, calzones, hamburgers and hoagies. Call 833-5656 or visit www.rockintomatopizza.com.

10. Restaurant correction

Zakia’s Greek Cuisine relocated to 8701 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. 1125 and was incorrectly mapped in the October issue. Call 670-1000 or visit www.zakiasgreekcuisine.com.

11. Greystar buys Gables

Greystar Real Estate Partners has acquired Gables Great Hills, now Museo, 11266 Taylor Draper Lane. The 276-unit apartment complex was constructed in 1993. Call 349-5100 or visit www.greystar.com.

12. New showroom

Johnson Fine Floors, 3501 Hyridge Drive, opened a new showroom in October. The company has been in business for 35 years, and the new showroom offers fine flooring, rugs and decorative tiles from around the world. Call 795-9008.

13. Extra buy time

The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, has extended its shopping hours for the holiday season. Call 795-4230 or visit www.simon.com/mall.

• Nov. 28 and 29: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Nov. 30: noon-7 p.m.
• Dec. 1-5: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Dec. 6: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Dec. 7: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Dec. 8-13: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Dec. 14: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Dec. 15-18: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Are you green enough?

The City of Austin has updated its Green Neighbor program and introduced the Green City Challenge to challenge citizens to use environmentally friendly practices. The challenge is being presented as a booklet that includes action items with tips for saving energy and water and reducing air pollution, gardening chemicals and waste. Rewards for the program participants who reach a certain score include a T-shirt or pass to Barton Springs pool. Neighbors and co-workers can team up to become a Green Neighborhood to receive website recognition and other benefits. The challenge is available online at www.cityofaustin.org/watershed/greenneighbor or booklets are available at all Austin public libraries. To request a larger quantity of guides, call 974-2446.

Artery explorer

On Nov. 6, St. David’s North Austin Medical Center hosted the US AGAINST ATHERO “Artery Explorer,” a 65,000-pound, multisensory motion simulator that takes people on a virtual tour of the arteries in an effort to increase awareness of atherosclerosis, the progressive buildup of plaque — made of fat, cholesterol and other substances — in the inner walls of the arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke. Hundreds of participants took a ride on the “Artery Explorer” throughout the day, including students from Lanier High School.

Volunteers needed

Snappy Snacks Mobile Catering is looking for volunteers and sponsors to help deliver food to 1,500 north Austin families Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The local caterer is sponsoring its fifth annual Celebration of Love holiday drive to raise money to buy food and gifts for struggling families. Family sponsorships are $20, which pays for a meal for a family of 10. Children’s Christmas gift sponsorships start at $10. Visit www.celebrationoflove.org/events.shtml or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Green grant

Foundation Communities received a $50,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation in October. This is the first grant Foundation Communities has received for green initiatives, and it will be used to fund environmental initiatives that benefit low-income Austinites, including the hiring of an intern whose work focuses on environmental audits and improvements of the organization’s apartment communities. The nonprofit group creates high-quality, affordable housing for low-income families and individuals while providing programs aimed to improve their financial standing. Call 447-2026 or visit www.foundcom.org.

Tax volunteers needed

For the 2009 tax season, the Community Tax Centers need more than 500 volunteers to reach their goal of completing 20,000 tax returns for individuals with low incomes. Qualifications for volunteers include an 8-hour training session, commitment of 36 hours between January and April and a desire to help. CPE credits are offered for volunteering CPAs who receive their IRS-certification and donate the requested 36 hours. Visit www.communitytaxcenters.org or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Competitive wrestling

LCP Wrestling began practice in early November, but is still accepting walk-ins for the 2008-2009 season. Youth ages 5 to 15 need to complete a registration form and bring payment to Leander High School, 3301 S. Bagdad Road. Practices are Monday and Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for youths 7 and younger, and Monday 7 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Thursday 7 to 8:30 p.m. for youths 8 and older. Practice is held in the wrestling building at Leander High School. Call 692-7467, visit www.lcpwrestling.org or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Award-winning superintendent

On Oct. 23, Austin Independent School District Superintendent Pat Forgione was awarded the 2008 Richard R. Green Award at the Councils of Great City Schools’ Annual Fall Conference in Houston. The award, named in honor of the first black chancellor of the New York City school system, is the nation’s highest honor for urban education leadership. As the recipient of the Green Award, Dr. Forgione will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for an AISD high school senior of his choice or one from his high school alma mater. Visit www.austinisd.org.

Win a Lexus, help a child

Purchase a $100 ticket for a one in 2,000 chance to win a 2008 Lexus RX 400h Hybrid Luxury Utility Vehicle, $2,500 H-E-B gift card or two round-trip airline tickets on Continental Airlines. The drawing will be held at “Dancing with the Stars-Austin” at the Hilton Austin on Dec. 7. Proceeds benefit the Center for Child Protection. Call 472-1164, visit www.centerforchildprotection.org or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Cards for care

The Texas 4-H State Council has partnered with the Starlight Children’s Foundation as an ongoing venture to provide an opportunity for Texas 4-H members to write encouraging messages to children and their families who have been diagnosed with a major illness. These cards will be distributed throughout Texas by the Starlight Children’s Foundation. A $1 donation is requested per card to assist with the efforts of the foundation. Visit www.millinstars.org.

Sponsors needed

The annual Just Because Christmas Project is seeking sponsors to buy food and small gifts for families in need. Volunteers are also needed Dec. 19-20 at Chisholm Trail Middle School, 500 Oakridge Drive, to help sort goods, wrap presents and distribute items to the families. Call Tino Hernandez for more information at 259-5746 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Wastewater averaging

The Austin Water Utility will begin its annual wastewater averaging cycle Nov. 14 to determine wastewater charges for customers for the 2009-2010 service year. Visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/wwaverage/default.htm for more information and to find specific dates for the wastewater averaging period.

Donations needed

Bikes For Goodness Sake is working with the Texas Military Forces State Family Program to give 600 bikes and helmets to the children of deploying soldiers in Austin and other Texas cities. The group uses donations to purchase bikes from local partner shops to promote health and joy in children with parents on deployment. Donations can be made until Dec. 20 by calling 680-8659 or visiting www.bikesfgs.org.