Tyler TX Facebook

Follow Donny on Twitter

Username:
Password:
  Remember Me   Forgot password?  Register
0-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

Its Fashion Metro

January 14th, 2010

It’s Fashion Metro is a clothing store just in front of the Walmart at HWY 64 and Loop 323.  It is plane on the outside but full of color and style displayed in the merchandise.  They sell cheap cheap cheap jewelry, shoes, lingerie, clothes… and quite the variety for it all too.   I love shopping here because I know I’m always going to find something I like for dirt cheap.  If your style is hip, colorful, fun or too expensive for your income then most likely you will find a piece of treasure here. 

It’s Fashion Metro also goes by the name It’s Fashion and is a part of a bigger company called The Cato Company, which specializes in value-priced fashion.  Which means you should be bound to find something useful from either store for a very low price.  I hope you grow to enjoy this store.  I certainly do!

The Dollar Tree

January 13th, 2010

You know when you’re looking for something but you have no idea where to get it and then you are somewhere where you least expect to find it and poof there it is? For me that is what happens all the time at the The Dollar Tree on HWY 64 just west of loop 323 in Tyler, TX. Every time I go in there I’m hit with “Wow thats here too! Such a deal.” So many Christmas decorations, if you didn’t get yours there this year then man you missed out. Just the items being a dollar makes it so much more fun!

There is a wedding section with little trinkets, invitations, gift idea’s and bags… I know they’re cheap but come on, the point is to remember your getting married not what they get because you’re getting married. If you are looking for fake cockroaches for a practical joke Walmart does NOT have them and yes, The Dollar Tree does.

If you are cheap about the food you eat guess what! The Dollar Tree has food. Candy, canned food, bagged food and all kinds of drinks. Check out the kitchen section! So much stuff, and for only a dollar. Even while on the way out there is the option to give to the community and buy a bag that will be given to a boy or girl that may need a gift/toy, how awesome is that kind of opportunity huh?

The store closes at 9:00pm so you’ve got time to go! If you’re debating on throwing a party but don’t want to front the funds to make it look totally awesome go The Dollar Tree, it has everything. Cleaning supplies? Once again, The Dollar Tree has it. If you have never ventured into a dollar store in Tyler, TX then put it on your to-do list, at least your bucket list, because it is quite the novelty.

Exotic Fish in Tyler

January 8th, 2010

Exotic Fish

2501 Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75701-9210
(903) 509-0105

Well, it seems I may have a new favorite business in Tyler. Walking into the Exotic Fish store is almost like visiting a scuba shop where the reef is brought indoors. This new store seems like something one might find in a costal Texas town rather than somewhere this far from the Gulf. They have an incredibly beautiful selection of fish in the most vibrant colors found this side of the beach. Tyler’s Exotic Fish carries an amazingly diverse selection of species; including all the usual fresh water varieties, as well as specialty fish like rays, eels and even, (from time to time) small sharks.
 
As someone who has enjoyed owning aquariums off and on for years, I know a little about the hobby; the people at E.F. in Tyler know a lot. They offer a tremendous selection of all things aquarium related. They sell fish tanks of nearly every shape and size and can help the customer install either a salt or fresh water aquarium in his or her home or office. The store also sells accessories like coral, stone and various plants. And fish are not the only interest here. The Tyler Texas store has a section for exotic reptiles as well including lizards, snakes and more. 

Due to the fact that this is a specialty shop, expect to pay more. These are not the four for a dollar variety one might find at Walmart, but the fish won’t be dead by the time you get them home either. The folks at the Exotic Fish store are actually experts who can offer help and advice to anyone with just about any question about up keep of their tanks.

A visit to this store is an event whether or not you intent to buy and it’s actually an educational experience for the kids who will be mesmerized by all the fish. Check out Tyler’s Exotic Fish store at their new location on the loop across from Jack O’ Diamonds.

A Large Bookseller With Local Appeal

January 8th, 2010

While the Barnes and Noble chain is often seen as the Walmart of the bookselling world, the benefits of having one in Tyler are innumerable. Even though B&N is far from a local business, it has become something of a social and cultural center here. Not only does the store boast thousands of titles for sale, but since its opening, countless musical presentations, author signings, and other events have taken place within its doors.

The Starbucks café has served as a meeting place for book clubs, chess players, church groups, and even the occasional college student cramming over a cup of Joe. Sometimes it’s a place for prearranged meetings, and sometimes it’s just a place to kill time. And who can resist wandering the book filled aisles looking for nothing in particular, but finding some volume we can’t live without.

On-line booksellers like Amazon.com or even Barnes&Noble.com and others are useful tools for locating those hard to find or out of print books. But they cannot replace the bookstore experience. It is one of the pleasures of life to sit on the floor and read the first couple chapters of a book before deciding whether or not to make the purchase. And unlike electronic books, a hard copy will never crash or freeze up.
 
The sympathies of a literary purest aside, the book store turns a tidy profit, both for the company and the community, and with a sizable staff employed there a certain amount of the dollars do stay in Tyler. So even though our neighbor B&N isn’t company headquarters, and its not a mom & pop style business it is nevertheless a staple of our local community, one we are fortunate to have.

Movies in Tyler Texas

December 20th, 2009

For showtimes at all the movie theaters in Tyler we recommend using an online service like Flixter, Fandango, or RottenTomatoes

Because Tyler, TX is a mid-sized city that is overshadowed by titans like Dallas and Fort Worth, people often say there is nothing to do in the city. There are no pro sports teams, and major concerts with big name artists are rare. Maybe this is true to a degree but virtually ever resident of Tyler Texas love movies and restaurants. There are hundreds of restaurants in the city, but there are three movie theaters: The Hollywood Rose, Carmike 14, and Times Square Cinema. Below is a brief description of each of these.

Movie Theaters in Tyler

Hollywood Rose Cinema

Cost for a regular admission ticket: $7.75

This west Tyler theater was built in the 1990’s, and remains a popular choice for many young people in the city. However, “The Tyler Rose” is generally considered the worst theater in Tyler. The staff members appear to hate their jobs, and the floor is perpetually sticky. The movie viewing, too, is subpar. Expect problems with the projector and sound, and maybe even the temperature. But the biggest problem with The Tyler Rose is the chaotic atmosphere. The theater is ground zero for high school loiterers who have nothing better to do than attract attention to themselves. Fights are routine, and there are often policemen roaming the premises. For other high schoolers, this might be an attractive atmosphere. But not for parents who want to send their kid to a movie, and not for adults who just want to watch a film in peace.[ad#large-blog-block]

Carmike 14 in Tyler

Cost for a regular admission ticket: $8.25

Carmike 14 is Tyler’s largest and most modern theater. It is located close to a hoard of shopping outlets on South Broadway such as Kohls, Target, Walmart Super Center, and Gander Mountain. Carmike 14 is a fine theater, offering digital projection and 3-D movies (when they are available.) The staff are generally cheerful and competent. The stadium seating, too, is great. I have few qualms with Carmike 14, other than the slightly higher prices and the problem of crowds. But at least the crowds are there because it’s a good theater, unlike The Tyler Rose.

Times Square Cinema

Cost for a regular admission ticket: $7.50

Long before The Tyler Rose or Carmike 14 were ever built, movies in Tyler Texas were being shown 7 days a week at a little theater in Times Square on South Broadway. The theater has just six screens, and a small staff. It has an entirely different feel than most modern theaters. It’s a much more down to earth atmosphere because it is a family owned and operated business. When you go there, you can expect digital projection, 3-D viewing, and a clean atmosphere. The screens are smaller than the ones at the other theaters, but the experience is better overall. The best part? The high school kids prefer to hang out at the bigger places. Times Square patrons are their to watch movies, not to attract (or repulse) potential mates.

Video Rentals in Tyler

If you prefer to rent movies in Tyler Texas, there are still two Blockbuster video stores, one on 5th and Beckham, and one on Troupe in the Green Acres Shopping Center. Hollywood Video is still renting to customers on South Broadway. Ten years ago, this city was crawling with video stores! But the advent of Netflix and RedBox movie kiosks have made those places irrelevant. If you want to rent a movie in Tyler, it’s easier and cheaper to drop into WalMart or MacDonalds. Update: Netflix and Redbox have destroyed all rental movie stores. Sorry but you will have to mail order your video rentals, do pay per view, or use the redbox and blockbuster video vending machines around town.