Sunday Funday

Sunday Funday actually starts on Friday for us.

So we started out Friday night with one of our favs...Steak - Texas Style!!

What do you order at a steakhouse? (this is not a trick question)...

After a nice meal and tossing peanut shells around (it's a thing) we headed home.  Saturday was errands, then we got ready for the evening event.

Aurora is an awesome display of creativity and light art that takes place every two years in downtown Dallas at night.  Last year had so much participation Dallas decided to do a mini show this year - or Prelude (to the 2017 show).  We had to go.

We just did a drive by the event last year, not knowing what it was.  So this year we did not want to miss out.  The opening concert held in a hidden pavilion by the Opera House was great:

This guy looked like Bruno Mars and had the crowd jumping.  After the short concert it was dark enough to start visiting the outdoor exhibits.

There were projections on buildings, creative lighting was everywhere...

This was a motion piece - waves of light.  It was made with small "clocks" with a light attached to the second hands.  As the second hands moved in circles it gave the illusion of light waves.  Very cool.

Building projections:

We were really enjoying this night

This creature looked much better in the dark, without my flash :(

After a night of walking and admiring art, we got hungry.  A short walk away was nourishment.

We ordered and sat outside in the cool air on the patio

This place makes a special burger with sausage from a local BBQ establishment - Pecan Lodge.  I love Pecan Lodge, and had to try it.  I was not disappointed.

And you can't eat at Shake Shack without trying one of their shakes...

After dinner we were on the hunt for Mochi ice cream - a confection made from Japenses mochi (pounded sticky rice) with ice cream filling.

Fortunately just a few short blocks down McKinney Avenue there was a place that maybe had some.

We searched the whole store a few times but came up with a big goose egg.

Alas, it was not to be for tonight.  We walked back to the Prelude and drove home.  After a short sleep we woke up hungry.

So back to the scene of the crime.  Right across the street from the failed Mochi adventure the night before we spotted a nice restaurant we hadn't been to yet that served brunch - Nickel and Rye.

We decided to try it out.  First big YES was their hooch served up in mason jars.

 We both ordered the house special...take a guess:

You tell me if I liked it:

I highly recommend this place.  If you go, ask for Mike Hamilton he was our new friend and will be yours as well.  His favorite hobby - serving booze.  Oh yeah, he works there too.

OK brunch over.  Now to Bishop Arts to walk it off.

After some exercise it was time to relax with a cup of Joe.

We ordered some coffee and sat on some small tables by the sidewalk to enjoy.

Of course what goes with coffee?  Why look at what's just across the street...

This place has the best pies ever.

We indulged

and made out way back home.  Weekend over...or is it?  Monday came and we just couldn't let the weekend end.  So when dinner time came around, time for a new place to try.  In keeping with the the pie theme from the day before...

This was an unexpected surprise.  They have other stuff besides pizza pies.  Their pasta dishes...just try them. We had the Mediterranean - spinach, feta, mozzarella, and marinated diced roma tomatoes on a hummus base with grilled chicken

Poblano Pepper pasta - grilled chicken, cilantro, red bell peppers, onions, and mozzarella on a poblano pepper base

Look at the time, it's Tuesday already.  Well thanks for sharing our "weekend" aka Sunday Funday.  Next time join us, we love company :)

85 degrees C

Sweet tooth Sandra heard about a new international bakery chain founded in Taiwan that recently opened in Texas, or should I say "close" to our house.

We had to try it, so off we go for a "short" ride to Carrollton Town Center at President George Bush Turnpike and Old Denton Road.  Um, no one told us everyone else in the metroplex had the same idea...

It was so crowded, they even had a bouncer who would limit the number of patrons allowed in.

The Disney type line moved relatively fast and soon we were granted access into Willie Wonka's factory.

 It's a self-serve kinda place.  Pick up a tray and tongs and enjoy...

First up we selected some squid ink pastry,

Yeah, this isn't the Panaderia (Mexican Pastry Store) I grew up with.  There were no Conchas (shells),

 Cuernos (horns),

or Maranitos (little pigs).

Those are the usual suspects obtained when one gets Pan Dulce.  No sir, here we had authentic Asian confections of all sorts.

These delicacies were flying off the shelf, and being replenished just as quickly...

It's like Halloween treat night for adults,

We made our selections.  Can you guess my favorite?

So selecting which morsels to eat was just the half of it.  Then the show starts on individually packaging your treats.  There is apparently a Feng Shui way of doing it, check out the concentration of the employee.

And finally, you are allowed to leave with your calorie bombs.

Time to leave?  Not so fast, you're going to work up a good thirst, so better get something to quench.  No not Butter Beer,

or Pints,

This place had special concoctions.

I think we went with #2, but can't be sure.  What do you think?

We sampled some on the way home, for a late night snack, and then again for an after breakfast treat the next day.  Verdict: Five Jalepenos!!!  This is sure to be added to our rotation.  Until next time...we'll be practicing...