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Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

Finding the perfect Commercial Facility in Tyler Texas

December 14th, 2010

Tyler Texas Commercial Facilities For LeaseEast Texas is looking like one of the best areas to invest in commercial property. While other states and cities nationwide have seen a decline in affordable mortgages, and an increase in foreclosures, places such as Austin and Tyler, Texas and neighboring cities have continued to see a steady increase in sales.

East Texas Commercial Real Estate is attractive to many investors and families due to the beautiful weather all year round, the friendly communities, the vast array of amenities at close reach, and the lack of state income tax and low business taxes. The real estate market in East Texas has remained on a pretty even keel for prices while other cities around the country are trying to deal with losing money or buying too high.

As more people are finding their way to the warm climate of East Texas, new buildings and homes are being erected creating the opportunity for new jobs. There are also new shopping malls being built, and high end stores that are a great opportunity for an investor looking for a prime location. Due to the cost of living being so affordable, more and more people are looking to start new businesses, and purchase a home for their families. This makes it the ideal market for those house flippers as well as commercial investors. With properties not staying on the market too long, investors know they will not have to wait long to sell the property and make some money.

Taking in the Lights in Tyler Texas

December 12th, 2010

I have always enjoyed the sport of people watching, whether in Jackson square or Trafalgar. Well now that preparations for Christmas are well under way I’ve discovered another hobby closely akin it. I call it house watching. Now before you draw comparisons between my new pastime and stocking, allow me to explain. A few nights ago I took my son and my nephew out for what turned out to be quite a long walk to look at Christmas lights. Like going to an off Broadway play, we strolled the nicer neighborhoods between Holly Tree and the mall, barely on the west side of sixty- nine.

Not all of the homes were decorated of course, but a number had some really nice displays that quite captivated the boys. I was slightly surprised to find some really beautiful homes in the area that actually, in my opinion, rivaled those in even more upscale neighborhoods like Holly Tree and the Cascades. While I admit it is a little shameless, I found myself catching glimpses in the windows of Trees, decorations and even the homes themselves. I suppose it’s natural to wonder and speculate about the folks who live there. I felt a bit like a Hugo or Dickens character, wandering through the wealthier districts of town at night, in the cold December air wondering about other men’s families and how they celebrate the holidays. It was enough to send me reaching for a copy of A Christmas Carol upon my arrival home.

At any rate Tyler is a fine city in which to spend the Christmas holidays. It’s cold, but tolerably so. A wool coat and a scarf, (if you’re into that sort of thing), is usually sufficient and you can still experience the traditional Christmas nostalgia as you take the kids “house watching” though the decorated neighborhoods with cups of coffee or hot chocolate.

So what’s my point? Simply this: Enjoying the Christmas Season in Tyler doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money in these tough financial times. Maybe it just means taking a cool walk down a brightly lit street and finding that you’re pretty thankful for the blessings that are already in your life. Merry Christmas Tyler! Enjoy the Holidays, and don’t forget to take in the lights!

UT Tyler’s Cowan Center

December 10th, 2010
UT Cowan Center

Disney Music in Tyler Texas at the UT at Tyler Cowan Center

The UT Tyler’s Cowan Center opens its stage to many different performances through out the year. Some of the most popular people and plays have preformed on the Cowan Center‘s stage. This past year comedian John Lithgow, Deal or No Deals’ Howie Mandel, and even the United States former president George W. Bush, have all preformed at the Cowan Center. January brings a whole new variety of shows and performances.

January 15, 2011 the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, along with music director and conductor Per Brevig, introduce Disney in Concert at the UT Tyler Cowan Center. This event will feature many different songs and music from popular Disney movies such as The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, and Pirates of the Caribbean. The concert is a multi-media extravaganza that will display pictures of the Disney films on a large screen behind the orchestra. The Disney in Concert is a great way to introduce young children to the world of classical music and symphonies. All songs are performed by the East Texas Symphony Orchestra along with a quartet of guest vocalists. Matinee tickets are on sale now of $10-$15 dollars, or you can buy tickets at the door for $15-$20. Tickets for the evening show are on sale for $10-$55, you can find discounts for groups and students. Your whole family will enjoy this concert of the most magical movies and songs.

January 13, 2011 UT Tyler presents an Evening with Jon Landau. Jon Landau is best known for producing two of the most famous movies, and the two highest grossing movies of all time, Titanic and Avatar. Landau has won an Academy Award and two Golden Globe awards. He has played part in creating and producing many great films over the years and is known for his understanding of visual effect technologies (even the most complex and complicated visual effects), and his motivation, and his ability to motivate others. This lecture will be a motivating look into the profession world of producing and the behind the scenes of some of the most popular movies of all times.

January 27, 2011 the amazing talent of violinist Joshua Bell. He stole the attention of America at the age of 14. He is a winner of a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra. Joshua Bell is one of the biggest and well-know performers in the classical music industry. His beautiful music has caught the attention of the nation and the Cowan Center is bringing his talent to Tyler.

Tickets are already on sale for all of these shows and also for musical show The Color Purple. The Color Purple has been nominated and won many different awards for the Broadway musical. The Cowan Center has shows for all different people and for all ages. The Cowan Center’s stage has had many great musicals, plays, and performers. Students can get discounts or can get in free to some of the shows, for information about the shows and discounts contact the Cowan Center Box Office.

Weight Loss In Tyler

December 10th, 2010

It is that time of year again, it may be the Thanksgiving turkey or the Christmas ham but weight loss is on most everyone’s mind. Tyler has many great places that help people loss weight and lead a healthier life. Three great ways to loss weight is to first find a support group, eat healthier food, and to exercise.

Tyler has great support groups; one very popular support group is Weight Watchers. At Weight Watchers there are many great people that are in similar situations as you are. People are there to encourage you not only to loose weight, but to live a better life. They have many great books that help you eat the healthiest choice at all different restaurants and at your home. The Weight Watchers’ cook book has many great meal ideas. Some of the restaurants in Tyler, such as Applebee’s, has a Weight Watcher’s approved section on the menu. Weight Watchers has many support meetings to encourage people to continue to eat healthy and to keep loosing weight that meet the goals you set for yourself.

Eating healthy can many times can seem to be the more expensive option. The soon to be health food store in Tyler, Fresh, will be an easy, convenient place o find all your health food needs. Tyler also has many granaries. At the Tyler granaries you can get many different vitamins, health drinks and organic foods. When you are buying organic foods, they may be the healthiest choice but they are the most expensive choice of food. When shopping at Wal-Mart and Brookshire’s grocery stores it is easy to find a large selection of food full of MSG and everything unhealthy. The healthiest way to grocery shop in stores like these is to only shop in the sections around the grocery section. This way you are missing the frozen foods that are loaded with preservatives. You are also missing the sodas and snack foods. When you are shopping for healthier chooses keep in mind that it is much healthier to make things from scratch than to buy something that is pre-cooked, packaged and frozen. This is a cheaper way to shop healthier, but when you shop organic at granaries and soon at Fresh, the results are fast and noticeable.

Finding a gym should not be a hard task if you live in Tyler. There are many different gyms that are at all different locations in Tyler. There is only one YMCA in Tyler but if you have a membership there, you can also use it at the YMCA in Whitehouse. The YMCAs have many different programs that keep you accountable to loosing weight and living a healthy lifestyle. The YMCA also has many classes that make exercising enjoyable. The Zumba classes have become popular and fun. Zumba is a fast pace cardio class that works out all of your muscles. The YMCA in Tyler has a pool and many swim classes for adults and for children, starting at only a few months old. You can also get a trainer at YMCA that will keep you accountable to your workout goals. Another great place to workout for women is Curves. Curves is an all women gym that works out a women’s body to tone and loose weight. The Curves’ equipment is laid out in a circle so that women can use each machine for about a minute and then move to the next machine. If you are a mom, it is important to find a gym that has a place for young children to stay while you work out. The YMCA in Whitehouse has a great place for young children to play. It is out in the open so you are able to check on your kids while taking a break from working out. Premier Fitness also has a great child care on most days, but not Sunday. Premier Fitness has great classes to help you get in shape. One of the most popular classes is the Hip Hop dance class. These classes are a great way to workout through dance. A great way to burn calories is their Cardio kick boxing classes. Premier Fitness has many trainers that are great at pushing you to loose weight and to do the best that you can to meet goals they will help you set.

If your New Year’s resolution is to meet your weight loss goals and to live a healthy lifestyle, than you can find all that you need in Tyler. This year is as good as any to start to work for the body and health that you always wanted.

The King Lives! and He’s Coming to East Texas!

December 9th, 2010

Elvis Presley Tyler TexasAs I sit to write I’m looking for inspiration as to how to begin. And then it hits me like a bolt of lightning! What better way to get inspired to write an article on Elvis Presley than by listening to King himself? So up comes my itunes library and out comes the aforementioned inspiration. I’ve always been something of a fan of the King. I don’t have any black velvet art hanging on my walls, I’ve only driven through Vegas on the road to somewhere else, and I’m too young to have ever seen him in concert, but he’s entertained me on any number of road trips and excursions. Why the sudden Elvis discussion? Because East Texas is about to be visited Elvis re-incarnate in the form of Elvis impersonator Kraig Parker.

My first encounter with an Elvis impersonator was at the bookstore. Nearly everyone has at some point encountered their priest or teacher in an average everyday setting like the grocery store and felt at once as though they’ve been caught red handed at something they oughtn’t have been doing, and at the same time surprised at their teacher’s or clergyman’s need to eat. This was exactly how I felt upon seeing “Elvis” at Barns and Noble. He was out of costume, but still his occupation was obvious. I must confess that my first response was to chuckle a little. My next was to recognize… “Hey this guy has something that he genuinely loves!” He evidently loves the music of Elvis Presley, he probably loves music in general, and he must love to perform. One look at Mr. Parker’s web page was enough to convince me that all of these things are certainly true of him!

Kraig ELVIS Presley Parker has evidently been performing as the King of rock and roll for a number of years now. His act has taken him around Europe and North America, and he is widely considered be one of the best imitators in the business. On Friday, January seventh, Mr. Parker and his band will be visiting Maude Cobb Convention Center in Longview. The show starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are already on Sale. For more information on Kraig Parker, visit his web site at www.thekinglives.com To purchase tickets go to http://www.capitalentertain.com or call (903)987-1908. The original King may not be with us these days but his music and memory are surely timeless.