September 5th, 2012
As a big sports fan, I typically prefer to watch my teams from the comfort of my own living room. This way, I can pause and rewind the games, get up and come back as I please without missing anything and not have to worry about where I’m at and who’s around to hear and see me react when something good or bad happens.
However, there are two alternatives for places to go other than home to watch the game in Tyler. The first is at Buffalo Wild Wings and the second is Double Daves Pizzaworks.
It’s no-wonder why Double Dave’s slogan is “Wings, beer, sports.” When you go, you’re paying for good food and a great atmosphere.
The best time to go to Buffalo Wild Wings is during football season on a Sunday afternoon. Every TV (and they have many) is tuned to one of the many NFL games and you don’t have to miss a thing. When one game is one a commercial break, you can simply turn your head and watch another game since you have several options.
Another slogan for Buffalo Wild Wings is “You have to be here,” and you’re a sports fan, it’s an atmosphere you have to experience at least once. Pick a game, any game. It can be your favorite team playing or the prime time game of the week.
While you’re there try out the many flavors of wings, beer and sports (sure, sports can have a favor, you just have to be there to experience it.)
Double Dave’s is one also on my list for favorite places to go to watch the game and eat. If you’re talking favorite overall place, it comes in third, after my living room and Buffalo Wild Wings.
The best time to go to Double Dave’s is during lunch for the buffet but honestly, there’s no wrong time. The pepperoni rolls are incredible and unlike anything else you’ve ever had and they have a wide range of different types of pizza, and of course, big screen TVs showing the biggest game taking place. What’s not to like?
As football season approaches, something to consider is to go during a Sunday or Monday night game. That’ll really make you ready.
Tags: Atmosphere, Best Pizza, Best Time, Big Screen Tvs, Buffalo Wild Wings, Commercial Break, Favorite Places, Favorite Team, Flavors, Football Season, Good Food, Living Room, Monday Night Game, Nfl Games, pepperoni rolls, Pizza Place, Prime Time, Slogan, Sunday Afternoon, Time Game, tyler tx pizza, Wrong Time
Posted in Italian, Pizza | No Comments »
January 7th, 2011
I have to start by saying that Rick’s on the Square was a second choice, a B plan, for a lunch that went wrong.
As I rolled into the only parking space available in the square I was in no mood to be disappointed and left hungry again.
Upon entering Rick’s on the Square I was overwhelmed by the size of the place and the lunch crowd that had made it to a restaurant I had only heard of in passing.
Being led to a table near the outdoor area I was able to see to some degree the luxury that those who were seated there were given.
With fancy tablecloths and elaborate center pieces coupled with the outdoor beauties that only an outdoor space surrounded by walls can offer, I knew I was on the outside looking in.
The restaurant had a kind of jazz club feel to it, but in an area of town where the lunch crowd is a bunch of snoody lawyers talking about their recent boat purchases and the upcoming company retreats it feels a tad out of place.
The decor was really out of place, it was an attempt to look artsy without knowing what artsy looks like. I only had a few minutes to depict the atmosphere before my waitress arrived.
She handed out menus and took drink orders with fewer words than I thought possible. I was content with drinking my ice water and listening to the lawyers as I waited for her to return which took fewer than ten minutes. She took my order and once again disappeared and returned to fill my drink as I wait.
The order didn’t take nearly as long as I thought and the food was exceptional so I sent my comments to the chef via the waitress and I’m sure she probably just told him ‘good’, so that was the best I would get to him.
The bill came back larger than anticipated from a sandwich but was happy to pay it since the food did its job.
I was at Rick’s on the Square during lunch hours so I can’t speak as to how their later hour dining is, but I’ve been told its a social scene for singles in their twenties, and if that’s the case I’m sure I’ll be back there to socialize with the bright young minds of Tyler’s college crowds.
Tags: Atmosphere, Beauties, Boat Purchases, Center Pieces, Company Retreats, Fancy Tablecloths, Few Minutes, Jazz Club, Job, Lawyers, Lunch Crowd, Lunch Hours, Menus, Outdoor Space, Parking Space, rick eltife, Ricks on the square, ricks on the square tyler tx, Sandwich, Second Choice, Tad, Waitress
Posted in American Food, Bars and Clubs, Music Venues | No Comments »
November 27th, 2010
What to do about Willie? And of course I’m referring to Willie Nelson. The iconic country singer was arrested in the west Texas town of Sierra Blanca, for what? Marijuana possession of course! The arrest took place Friday morning just over two weeks prior to his stop here in Tyler on December eleventh. Of course he posted a twenty- five hundred dollar bail and went on his way, but I doubt the incident will serve as any kind of wake- up call for the seventy seven year old musician.
The arrest brought a lot of criticism to our state, by readers and bloggers, who found Nelson’s arrest ridiculous and harassing. It’s my guess they must have been California readers. Look I’ll admit I’m torn. Telling Willie not to smoke pot is akin to telling a Kennedy to remain monogamous. It’s really for the best, but will he do it? Please… I have this vision of the country legend lighting up about a mile down the road from the police station after his release. That may be cynical, but it’s also very possible.
So what to do with Willie? According the article I read his arrest took place about nine in the morning when the office in question smelled smoke coming off the bus. Of course that particular bus is probably so saturated that the relatively uninitiated like myself, could get high on the preexisting fumes. Listen California. Please allow me to explain since many of you don’t seem to understand. We Texans are very much into personal liberties like keeping what we make, living where we want or protecting ourselves, our families and what we own. We’re generally not comfortable with widespread chemical addiction. I know Austin… I know… but for the most part we are generally conservative folks.
In the case of Willie Nelson I suggest that he spend the majority of his time in an atmosphere that allows him to pursue his… hobbies and interests, and only really venture out for concert appearances etc. When outside the commune participating in those aforementioned activities is taking chances but those are his to take. Just don’t get mad at us if he lands in hot water from time to time.
This whole story and subsequent discussion, coincides with Mr. Nelson’s visit to Tyler, which is rapidly approaching. I actually really enjoy his music and would certainly attend the concert given the opportunity. Here’s to hoping he can stay out of trouble long enough make it here. For more info on Willie Nelson’s Oil Palace concert, visit their website at www.oilpalace.com.
Tags: Atmosphere, Best Buy, Best Buy Black Friday, Best Buy Black Friday Sale, Best Buy Black Friday Tyler TX, Best Buy Day After Thanksgiving, Best Buy Day After Thanksgiving Day Sale, Black Friday, Black Friday Sale, Bloggers, Cabbage Patch Kid, Cabbage Patch Kid Dolls, California Readers, Chemical Addiction, Concert Appearances, Country Legend, Country Singer, Flat Screen Tv, Friday Morning, Game Consoles, Gaming Consoles, Gi Joes, Guess, Heman Figures, Hobbies And Interests, Jacob Johnson, Marijuana Possession, Musician, Personal Liberties, Petsmart, Police Station, Ridiculous Deals, Safe Way, sears, Seventy Seven, Sierra Blanca, Smoke Pot, Texans, Thanksgiving Day Sale, Wake Up Call, wal-mart, Willie Nelson
Posted in Tyler Businesses | No Comments »
July 30th, 2010
Restaurants open and close in Tyler like the blooming and falling of leaves in the trees. It seems that no week goes by when I don’t hear about some new eatery opening in this town. One of Tyler’s newer restaurants (not brand new mind you), is Coyote Sam’s.
Located at 5424 Old Jacksonville Highway in Tyler, it seems destined to be another cult fav for many Tyler residents. I think the bar is one of the main reasons why. It’s fairly large, well stocked, and open fairly late.
Personally I really like the outdoor patio area but it’s really only useable in the cooler months. Come fall it’s a tremendous draw, but during the summer months it provides no real incentive for me to eat there.
The food is a bit pricey, but good. It’s not something to inspire letters home in my opinion, but it is a locally owned, original establishment, far preferable to Appleby’s or the like. The menu consists largely of burgers, barbeque, and a little fish.
I also should point out by the way that they do have a great brunch menu, and it’s actually pretty reasonably priced. My experience at Sam’s was not a bad one. The food was fine and the atmosphere was great. As I recall the service was a bit slow the night I went, but that could have been due to the fact that they had only newly opened.
Like I say, the coming cooler weather should make the place more appealing to patrons like myself, who enjoy the outdoor dining. Some readers will probably disagree with me here, but based on my admittedly limited experience with Coyote Sam’s, I would have to give it a three, out of five stars.
But don’t take my word for it, try it out for yourself and leave your thoughts on this site. For more information on Coyote Sam’s, visit their website at www.coyotesamsbarandgrille.com/home.
Tags: Appleby, Atmosphere, Barbeque, Brunch Menu, Burgers, Coyote, Coyote Sams, Coyote Sams Tyler TX, Cult, Falling Leaves, Fav, Five Stars, Letters Home, Limited, Little Fish, Outdoor Patio Area, Patrons, Restaurants, Sams, Trees, Weather
Posted in American Food, Restaurants | No Comments »
January 12th, 2010
Tyler has three movie theaters. Each one differs in price, quality, cleanness, and sizes. Hollywood Theatre has 14 screens. They have not made the changes to the digital technology. I am constantly disappointed in how dirty each theater is. When I go spend $7 to go see a movie I don’t want to think what I am sitting in and why the arm rest in so greasy. I have worked back in the kitchen and it is really dirty and properly cleaned. I have been there a few times when the movie has broke and I had to sit in the theater and wait for the projectionist to get it started again. Hollywood theater is not very family friendly atmosphere. Most of the time there are people who just hangout around the building and start fights and cause trouble.
The quality of the movies are not up to date, the theaters and lobby are always dirty, and it is not a family friendly environment, although it is cheaper, I much rather prefer Carmike. Carmike theater also has 14 screens. Movies there are much more expensive than the other two theaters in Tyler Texas. All of their movies are projected digitally and not through the old film projectors that break easily and are the pictures are not as clear. The theaters are not always the cleanest, but at least I can somewhat relax, the kitchen is in sight of the costumers and seems to be kept somewhat clean. Although you have to fight the large crowds, I think Carmike is worth it for its quality alone. I think it is more family friendly than Hollywood but the large crowds does make it harder to balance the drinks, popcorn, and kids.
Carmike’s movies tend to have about 20 minutes of advertisement and previews before the actual movie starts, which can be frustrating.
If the price is a bigger issue than the quality there is the smaller theater, Times Square. It only has a few screens, so the movie that you want to see may not be playing there. Times Square’s small crowds makes the viewing experience less stressful and more personal. Time Square still gives a student discount on the price of certain show times. It keeps the previews to a minimum of a couple minutes, and gets to the movie. The quality has began to change over to the digital projection and even some of the movies are in 3D, but it still does not compare to the size and clarity of Carmike. The screens are smaller than the other two theater’s, and the rooms sit less. Times Square is usually very clean, and from a resent report, it’s seats were the cleanest under a “black light” test. It’s easy to relax when you know that the theater is being properly cleaned.
So next time you want to have a good night and go see a movie, think about what is important to you to have a fun and relaxing experience.
Tags: Arm Rest, Atmosphere, Cause Trouble, Cleanness, Costumers, Digital Technology, Drinks, Film Projectors, Hollywood, Hollywood Theater, Hollywood Theatre, Large Crowds, Movie Theaters, Old Film, Popcorn, Price Quality, Projectionist, Screens, Times Square, Tyler Movie Theaters, Tyler Movie Theatres, Tyler Movies, Tyler Texas, Tyler Texas Movie Theatres, Tyler TX Movie Theaters
Posted in Movie Theaters | No Comments »
