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Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

Rocket Fizz Tyler Grand Opening Sept 6 – 7th 2013

August 27th, 2013

rocketfizzRocket Fizz is a new soda and candy store franchise in Tyler. It’s not what many might think such as a convenience store or something to that effect. So be sure to see what it’s all about Sept 6-7th…there will be super hero’s visiting the store for sure.

SAVE THE DATE!!! We are having our Grand Opening celebration September 6-7. A little birdie just told me Captain America may be here on the 7th??? Whaaaaaa? More details as they come in, stay tuned!

Rocket Fizz offers an insane variety of candy and soda and many of the choices are insane in and of themselves.

Take for instance the chocolate covered bugs or the chocolate dipped bacon as a bit of the zaniness that looms in the store.

It’s not all about oompa loompa style candy and soda. Although you might see a turkey and dressing soda you will also see some very delicious classic sodas and hard to find ginger beers to choose from.

Their salt water taffy selection is unlike anything you might find in a Wal-Mart. These taffy’s are hand crafted with exotic mixes and flavors not available anywhere else.

Take a free sample and see if you will like a flavor and then fill up your bag with a variety of choices. Don’t worry about weighing the candy.

Its simple, you fill up the bag with as much as you want and you buy it by the bag.

kidI went into this store two times so far and brought back a 24 pack of bottled sodas to fill up my movie night bedroom fridge.

I also made sure to get some classic candy favorites and mix it up with some gag tricks, and some of the more unusual candy choices.

And last of all you will see a large variety of metal signs that you can buy at the store to decorate your man cave or maybe a feminine choice to enlighten those that come into your pinteresting womanly area.

Don’t forget the grand opening is Sept 6th – 7th ….. there are rumors floating around that oompa loompas will be on sight as well as perhaps Captain America so be sure to grab the entire family and check this place out Sept 6 – 7th Fri-Sat.

 

Lakeview Baptist Assembly & Camp in Lonestar

August 24th, 2013

I spent a couple of days this week on a school retreat in Lone Star Texas. The town is about a half hour north of Longview, and was built around the U.S. Steele plant (formerly Lone Star Steele). Lakeview Baptist Assembly, (a local church in Lone Star), owns and operates a camp for organizations like schools, churches and Boy Scout troops to hold conventions and getaways. The facilities at Lakeside are fairly new and well maintained. They offer dormitories, a conference building, a beautiful, brand new cafeteria, an admittedly older but fully functional gym, a pool, volley sand pit, zip line cord, of course access to the Lake, and a number of areas to accommodate other events. All buildings are air conditioned as well, a bit to my surprise, so the stay is less like camping and more like a hotel with bunk beds. That is certainly not a complaint by the way. I happen to enjoy camping and the outdoors but not so much August.

As for critiques, I don’t have a ton. Road access isn’t great, and since everything is built on a bit of a hill side parking is really limited. There are evidently plans for another building as well, given the presence of some heavy equipment in the middle of camp. Otherwise, the grounds are really nice and offer some picturesque views of the lake.

So would I recommend Lakeside Baptist? That sort of depends on where you’re coming from. For Tylerites, it’s a bit far for a school or church group to choose as a destination, unless they’re looking for something out of the way. In that case I think there are maybe better options. For us however this local has worked fine. It’s fully equipped and for the kids the event is all about having a shared experience, and hanging around together for a few days while everyone else is in school, anyway. For those based in the Longview / Gregg county area, looking for a campground / convention / retreat location I suggest taking a look at Lakeside Baptist Camp in Lone Star.

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Four Visitors Tylerites Should Know About

August 13th, 2013

duckThis coming fall, Tyler is going to receive some very distinguished guests. Unless you’ve been living in a cave, odds are you already know all about cable’s biggest phenom Duck Dynasty. The Robertson family has made a career, or rather a few of them, by combining ill-advised antics, with a surprisingly cogent religious message. The first family of the hunting and fishing world has always been open about its faith. As members of the Church of Christ denomination, Willie (the family scion), and matriarch “Miss Kay” are making an appearance as part of a fund raiser for East Texas Christian Academy. Given that they share a denominational affiliation with the school, they were a logical choice for the school’s funds drive. The event will be held at the Oil Palace, on Sunday, September 15th, and will start at 3:00 that afternoon. For tickets, go to www.oilpalace.com, or contact the venue by phone at 903-566-2122.
As interested as I am in the Duck Dynasty appearance, I’m even more excited by the prospect of an appearance by Jerry Seinfeld at the Cowan Center on the campus of UT Tyler. Mr. Seinfeld is the probably biggest name in comedy today, nearly fifteen years or so after his television show ended. He has largely avoided major media attention while doing small projects like his increasingly successful internet program entitled “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Jerry’s appearance is scheduled for Thursday, October 24th, at 7:00 pm at the Cowan Center. Tickets are already on sale for season members, but they go on sale to the general public on the 19th of August.
Charles Krauthammer is a columnist, Fox News contributor, and one of the smartest social and political commentators in the business. Dr. Krauthammer is a renowned psychiatrist, and Pulitzer Prize winning writer, who has served on presidents’ committees, and written speeches for political leaders. He also happens to be one of my favorite editorial writers. He is scheduled to appear at the Cowan Center on Tuesday, February 4th, 2014; at 7:30 pm.Members can purchase tickets on August 5. Tickets go on sale to the public on November 25. For ticket information go to, http://www.cowancenter.org/lectureseries.html or call the box office at 903-566-7424.

Outlaw

July 31st, 2013

It may not be directly related to Tyler, but in a round-about way it is. A movie is being made about Legendary Lufkin head football coach John Outlaw.

The film, “Outlaw” has been in the works since 2012 and documents the life and career of the late coach.

The website www.coachoutlaw.com says, “John Outlaw’s passion for football was matched by the consideration he showed his players and coaches. It wasn’t just about winning to Coach, people mattered and they knew it. His legacy goes far beyond the field.”

Director Matt Skinner is quoted on the site as saying, “When we set out to make a documentary about a coach of this caliber, we knew we had a daunting task in capturing the essence of something so powerful and special. To find that message and transcribe it to film, to try to catch even the slightest piece of what remains was our duty, and our calling. This film is for all the children who will never have the chance to be coached John Outlaw.

Outlaw moved to Lufkin in 1994 from Arkadelphia, Ark where he won two state titles. He spent 17 years as coach of the Panthers. He died of a heart attack on December 23, 2011.

2 Guns

July 31st, 2013

In less than two days, movie lovers will head to theaters across the country for the action adventure/comedy known called “2 Guns starring Mark Wahlberg as Robert “Bobby” Trench and Denzel Washington as Michael “Stig” Stigman.

A DEA agent finds himself on the run with a naval intelligence office after a failed attempt to infiltrate a drug cartel. While on the run, the two begin picking up hints which of a secret that they’re actually on the same team. Neither one, however, is aware that the other is actually an undercover secret agent.

twogunsThroughout the movie, Trench and Stigman each think the other person is a crook who will be punished after the fact, and seeing as they’re both working under cover, they act like a member of the ‘gang’ so to speak in order to fit in and make things go more smoothly.

To me, the plot line seems a little weak but there’s enough humor and special effects to make up for that. However, if they rely too heavily on Wahlberg and Washington, it could mean there’s a lack of a story and therefore, not worth seeing.

I won’t likely see the movie in theaters because of the prices of movie tickets and what not, but I might consider it as a decent rental.

The movie which is based in New Orleans is Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity.