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KE Cellars in Tyler

July 11th, 2011

KE CellarsTyler has always been in a dry county, sending people miles away on a drive to the county line for any alcoholic needs. However Keipersol Estates has created an exceptional location in Tyler Texas through the KE Cellar located in the French Quarter. KE Cellars is truly unique because of it’s ability to sell wine within Tyler, it has been said that the local status of the winery has brought them favor with Tyler’s legal permission. Tyler has thoroughly opposed such controversial ventures in the past, yet perhaps the equestrian nature of a business is what’s important rather than the simple matter of alcohol.  With an extravagant European feel, KE Cellars has created an atmosphere synonymous with an East Texas wine connoisseurs fantasy of rustic class and sophisticated intoxication.

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Stepping into a strip mall store has never felt so much akin to a ranch wine cellar. The staff are extremely dutiful to the attendance of their customers offering information on any wine, upholding the level of professionalism assumed of a wine cellar even down to their formal uniforms. KE Cellars is much more than a cellar, with nightly music showcases, a giftshop and a wine processing area in the building this local wine cellar does much more than sell wine. KE Cellars doesn’t have to be only a wine shop, the Grande Cellar in the back of KE Cellars is open for anybody to enjoy a bottle of wine with friends, alone with some work or even for your next business meeting it makes a relaxing location for any day at any time.

Appropriately decorated with surrounding barrels of aging wine there’s a wi-fi connection as well as live music from six to nine in the Grande Cellar. KE Cellars can even mail you your wine to you if you aren’t able to come to the boutique yourself. Not only do they carry wines from the Keipersol Estates, in fact they have an enormous variety of wines from wineries across Texas and on a gratuitous note keep in mind that KE Cellars will give you a free wine tasting if you bring ten of their bags back to the store.

Kiepersol Estates own wine can range from light to quite intense. The 2010 Kiepersol Estates Moscato is a light selection of the Keipersol collection, described as a pale straw sweet wine it also has a palate immersed in the sweet tropical flavor of lychee and peach  with a subtle finish of honeydew to delicately accompany the fruitiness, this moscato won the bronze in the 2011 San Antonio News Express Wine Competition. But if a more intense wine is your pleasure than perhaps you should try the Kiepersol Estates numerous award winning 2007 Cabernet including a gold in the 2010 American Wine Society Commercial Competition. With flavors of caramel, chocolate and black currant at first the wine transitions with black pepper and structured tannins coming through as well as hints of coffee and black fruit for a strong vibrant finish to this highly acclaimed selection.

 

Super Cuts in Tyler

August 10th, 2010

While you are shopping at a strip mall many times you will run into a Super Cuts. I do not really like the idea of getting my hair cut from a franchise with stores in over 2,100 locations in the United States, United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico. I think that hair is really important and I like to know who is going to be doing my hair. If you are going to get your hair done at Super Cuts you could have a different person doing your hair every time you go.

Although all of the stylist are licensed to cut and style hair, when you go to get your hair done there, the thing that is missing is the personal relationship. I like being reassured when I go into the store that I will be able to leave with the hair cut that I want, and it is not very reassuring when you do not know who is going to be working that day.

Super Cuts in Tyler Texas does cut hair for kids, women, and men. The stylist know the newest hair style and the most fashionable looks. One of the hardest things is probably cutting little kids hair and trying to keep them sitting still. Of what I have seen the stylist at Super Cuts has done a good job at cutting little children’s hair quickly and even.

When you are getting your hair cut at a place that walk-ins are welcomed and reservations are not needed the stylist try to do your hair quickly and move on to the next costumer. I know that most of the stylist can really cut great hair, but the biggest problem with me is that I do not think that the stylist take the proper amount of time and care for your hair, but that is probably the reason that the price of the hair cut is half as much as if you when to a private stylist.

Sports Clips Haircuts

February 24th, 2010

Sports Clips Haircuts Sport Clips

5365 South Broadway Avenue
Tyler TX
Phone: (903) 509-2333

3222 S Main Street
Lindale Texas
Phone: 903-882-5550

Opening times – Mon-Fri 9am-8pm
Saturday 9 until 6pm and Sunday 12-5pm

Sports Clips is a hair salon just for guys (and boys) located in Lindale in a strip mall behind KFC near the Walmart. There are also 2 locations in Tyler and many more nationwide.

My husband uses Sports Clips every time and sometimes we take our son – aged 7. My husband hates having his haircut but this place makes it quite bearable. Firstly it’s very casual – you don’t need an appointment, you just show up whenever you feel like it and sign in for the next available haircutter. This does mean that you can’t get the same stylist – but most men don’t mind about that – they just want the job done!

Secondly, you don’t have to make small talk with the person cutting your hair. There are TVs playing sport all the time and it is quite OK to sit in silence and watch whatever is showing. This is a bonus for men – even those who don’t like sport! Thirdly the opening times are convenient – you can go after work or at the weekend for a cut and they are pretty speedy about it.

Our Sports Clips is well lit, warm and has a casual atmosphere with sports memorabilia on the walls from our local school team, the Texas Longhorns, Dallas Cowboys and Aggies – to cover all the bases! They also sell Nioxin and Paul Mitchell hair products but there is no pressure to buy.

The haircuts have always been fairly good – it is quite busy in there so I guess the stylists get lots of practice – and how difficult can ‘short back and sides’ really be?

There are 3 choices of service available. A ‘Varsity’ haircut is the quickest and least expensive, the ‘Triple Play’ includes a shampoo and steamed towel as well as a haircut and the ‘MVP’ is the most indulgent service with conditioner, steamed towel, and a 5 minute neck and shoulder massage. If you choose this one you are able to come in between cuts and get those stray hairs on your neck trimmed for free.

My son has the Junior Varsity cut – which is quick and simple and costs just $14.

A final thing to note about Sports Clips is that there is a reward card system, sometimes there are special offers – watch the local newspaper- and best of all, you can sign up for a free haircut during the month of your birthday. It is easy to see why Sports Clips is popular and why this franchise is growing so rapidly in the US. Personally I wouldn’t trade my long term relationship with my friendly hairdresser for the world – I trust her and enjoy my pampering mornings at her salon, but I can see why Sports Clips is perfect for a man!

The Granary in Tyler TX

February 5th, 2010

The Granary

1700 S Southeast Loop 323
Tyler
TX 75701
903 566 5562
Store Hours: M-F 10-7
Closed weekends

The Granary is a health food shop located in a strip mall behind McDonalds just off SE loop 323. It is THE place to buy healthy food and dietary supplements in Tyler. There is also a small branch of the Granary in Lindale – but it’s opening times are limited and frustratingly it is not open on a Saturday morning.

Granary Health Food Stores

Granary Health Food Stores

The store in Tyler is small and slightly dark (as all the shelves are loaded with products) but the service is great – the assistants know so much about health and can make recommendations for you at the drop of a hat.

There is a large section for dietary supplements, vitamins and herbal remedies, protein powders, almost a whole aisle of tea! and also organic produce, which is locally grown. They also have refrigerated items like goats milk, free range eggs, tofu and organic yogurts. In the chest freezers lining tone side of the shop there are cuts of frozen meat and other freezer food, including our favorite Ezekiel bread. Of course the Granary stocks other health foods – lots of cereals, nuts, beans and pulses and dried fruit too.

The Granary has some cosmetics and beauty products too plus essential oils. They have cruelty free and environmentally friendly cleaning products.

I buy lots of things at the Granary but here are 2 of my favorite products – Sambucol (it really works to prevent colds!) and Focus vitamins for my son – who, whilst not ADDH, does have a tendency to drift in class. I frequently fail to resist buying some organic almond butter which by the way, is a better price than at the usual grocery stores.

Last week I had to find some food for a friend who follows a gluten and dairy free diet – plus she has some allergies to other things too. The assistant was so helpful in finding me things to send to her – I was amazed that there are so many alternatives to ‘normal food’ out there!

Finally the Granary is a good source of information for alternative medicine and has details on local organic food co-ops, massage therapists and so on.

Granary Store Hours

Granary Store Hours

You will be surprised at how reasonable the Granary is on price. Eating healthily can cost a fortune but the Granary does not overcharge. If you want a more healthy lifestyle – the Granary is a good place to start.

Basil Thai Cafe in Tyler

January 31st, 2010

Basil Thai Cafe

1700 S SE loop 323
Suite 102
Tyler
75701
Tel: 903 504 5999

In an unlikely location in a strip mall behind McDonalds and Burger King you will find a hidden treasure – Basil Thai – Tyler’s only authentic Thai eatery.

Basil Thai in Tyler TX

Basil Thai in Tyler TX

It is called a ‘cafe’ for a reason that is obvious when you walk in – this is no spot for a romantic meal for two. The ambiance is non-existent, it is brightly lit with fluorescent lights in the ceiling, there is a TV in one corner, you order from the counter and the customer is responsible for getting their own drinks and silverware. There is no alcohol served.

But if it is good Asian food you are looking for, and lots of it, this has to be near the top of the list. Basil Thai serves appetizers such as egg rolls and edamame, Thai soups, salads, noodle dishes, curries and lots of different rice dishes with shrimp, salmon, chicken or beef.

As we approached Basil Thai Cafe we were greeted by the most delicious smells. The place was very spartan as I have already described and it was quite cold but it is clean and the food is served on china plates and chopsticks are available which is a bonus. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the menu has descriptions of the ingredients used in each dish for those unfamiliar with Thai food.

The entrees we chose were all under $10 and for that price you get a really big plate of delicious food. The ingredients were fresh – even down to the pineapple and the freshly toasted cashews in the fried rice. The Jasmine rice and rice noodles were wonderful and the vegetables were also crisp and plentiful. Even the Thai tea was good. The owners and chefs are Thai themselves and so the food is very authentic. Two of our party had been to Thailand and found the same flavors we had experienced there represented in the dishes served here in Tyler. However, instead of using parts from the whole chicken as they do in Thailand, the chefs here cooked us only the best chicken breast – definitely a good adjustment to the traditional methods in my mind! We liked the idea of ‘spicy ratings’ for the curries – very accommodating for the Texas palate – you can choose one star, two or three. One star is described as a tingling sensation, two is a stimulating kick and three is a raging fire! I chose two stars which was really quite warm, perhaps the 3 stars should be reserved just for the true ethnically Thai consumers.

I think the reputation of Basil Thai is catching on – we had the last available table last Friday night and the turnover of customers was quite fast. I also noted that there were several families there. Fried rice and noodles are a good option for hungry children.

My overall impressions are that this is a good place for a good fast feed. It isn’t in itself an evening’s entertainment despite the slightly exotic food but is good if you are going somewhere afterwards. Alternatively you could order a take-out and have it at home. You can phone in an order any time. I think I will do that whenever I have a craving for a taste of the Orient!