News on Events
Austin Auto Show 2012 is Here
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May 18-20, 2012
As we constantly build multi-car garages when building Austin custom homes, it’s no secret that our clients and friends are car enthusiasts. To make sure you don’t miss out on your passion, we’d like to remind you that the Austin Auto Show is happening this weekend. From May 18th to 20th (Fri-Sat: 10am-10pm; Sun: 10am-6pm) at the Austin Convention Center, you’ll have the opportunity and pleasure to see all the new 2013 lines for almost every major automobile brand.
In addition to the new 2013 models, there will be special displays and exhibits. Inspired by the new Formula 1 track under construction in Austin, Michael Schumacher’s F1 race car will be on display, courtesy of Ferarri of Austin. The new Acura NSX concept made famous by the Super Bowl commercial with Jerry Seinfeld will be featured in the Acura area. As a car enthusiast, I’m excited to see both of these displays.
Austin Restaurant Week 2012!
As you are well aware, Austin is quite the eclectic city. From the beautiful architecture of the custom homes in Austin, to the art houses, live music, and tech industry, Austin’s got a little taste of everything. Although the growth of the interactive, film, and music industries might be top-of-mind (thanks SXSW!), I’m going to remind you of the large food and beverage industry that Austin has to offer. And what better way to highlight this industry than two weeks dedicated to Austin’s Culinary Arts.
Austin Restaurant Week will take place and at wide variety of Austin restaurants March 26th-28th and April 1st-4th. A complete list of participating restaurants can be found on Austin Restaurant Week’s website. Each restaurant is encouraged to have their chefs prepare lunch, dinner, and brunch menu options. The lunch menus will feature two- courses and will range in price from $11 to $16. Three-course pri-fixe dinners will be in the $26-$36 price range. Brunch items will be $16.
South by Southwest® is back for 2012
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SXSW 2012
We know a little about South by Southwest (SXSW®) in one fashion or another. We know tons of people come to Austin for it each year and a bunch of bands play, but what exactly is it and what impact does it have on the city? Sterling Custom Homes, your Austin custom home builder, has done some digging to provide you with the answer to just that.
Since 1987, SXSW® has provided education, incubation, and entertainment to the Austin community and beyond. What started out as a small music conference and festival, SXSW® has grown immensely. In its humble beginnings, the SXSW® Music event had 700 registrants, a number that has grown to about 16,000 in 2011, with even more are anticipated this year. The SXSW® Film and Interactive elements were added in 1994 to support the growth of the two industries in Austin. These two events brought in about 32,000 registrants in 2011. The number of registrants increased by 40% from 2010 to 2011, accompanied by an estimates 126,000 total attendees. When you include the free concerts and other SXSW-sanctioned events, you’re looking at 286,000 total attendees for 2011. Imagine what kind of growth we might see in 2012. I can wait to see the numbers.
Set your clocks forward on Saturday night!
Austin luxury home builders are prepping this week to “spring forward” into daylight saving time on Sunday morning at 2:00AM. Though Ben Franklin had alluded to an idea of daylight saving time in 1784, it was George Vernon Hudson in 1895 who first proposed a plan to extend the daylight hours of the day during the spring and summer months. Longer daylight benefits the sports, retail, travel, and tourism industries. Personally, daylight saving time tricks me into thinking that I have more hours in the day to get things accomplished (to bad that’s not the reality of it). There’s just something about the sun staying out and extra hour that brings a joy to us all. It might bring out our inner child a little because we all remember how we associated the time change with summer getting closer, meaning no more school!
Sterling Custom Homes would like to remind you to walk through your Austin custom homes on Saturday night before you go to sleep and set all your clocks forward one hour. We’ve all experienced at one time in our lives being an hour early to some appointment because we forgot to set our clocks forward. We also all know that self-loathing feeling when we find ourselves an hour early to said appointment. If you’re the forgetful type, set an alarm to go off Saturday night to remind you to move your clocks forward. I know that’s what I’ll be doing.
Rodeo Austin Celebrates 75 Years!
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March 9th - 24th, 2012
It’s that time of year again to pull those boots out of your Austin custom homes‘ closets, dust off the cowboy hat, jump in the horseless carriage and head east to Travis County Expo Center. On March 9th, Rodeo Austin will open its gates for the 75th time. It was back in 1938 when County Extension Agent T.H. Royder worked with the Austin Chamber of Commerce to organize the Travis County Baby Beef Show. The show took place across the street from the Capitol at West 11th St. and Congress Ave. Back then the show featured only 16 animals. It’s safe to say that Austin Rodeo has grown quite a bit over the years.
Nowadays the Rodeo features live musical performances from some of the biggest bands in the country music industry. This year when you go to Rodeo Austin you’ll be able to see Eli Young Band, Chris Young, Clay Walker, Demi Lovato, Jake Owen, The Band Perry, Sara Evans, Josh Abbott Band, Glen Campbell, Bellomy Brothers, Gavin Degraw, Josh Turner, Stoney LaRue, Brett Michaels, and Kevin Fowler. One name you may not be familiar with is Jonathan Fox. He’s a local, up and coming country artist mixed with a little southern rock. He will be playing a set on Thursday, March 15th. If you have not heard his music, you can check it out in the iTunes Store. I highly recommend him.