movin’ on

to anyone who stops by this blog: if it seems deserted, it is. The address to my new blog is:

www.pkafka.com

Thanks. I hope you guys enjoy my new blog as much as I have enjoyed working with WordPress on this one.

-pk

austin – in retrospect

Summer is never complete without a trip down I-35 to good ole Austin, Texas. Since graduating high-school in 2005, a weekend in Austin with my Dallas buddies has been a summer staple.

The average Texas capital trip usually consists of a caravan of cars heading from Dallas to Austin; six, seven and sometimes even eight Greenhill (my highschool) grads travel down with hopes of tasty tex-mex  and good fun.

This most recent trip, unlike most, was a smaller, more manageable  group, consisting of three others besides myself. My usual host, Josh Ernst, who I previously wrote about in “jet-setting Joshua” played the part of the gracious host, which he continually does so damn well. However this trip, his promises and predictions of a great time were finally achieved.

Although my trips to Austin are usually enjoyable, it is not the city that makes the get-togethers great, it is the people. I love seeing old friends and making new ones too; however the females that frat parties usually provide are not the type that “will make my weekend.”

This short stint in Longhorn nation did contain a night of foam at the perfectly coined “cool, Jewish frat,” ZBT, however, the crazy party was far from being the best part of the weekend.

I would have to say that the small group played a key part in making this Austin weekend my favorite …ever. Our meals and down time tended to be the most fun of all: whether it was sipping Mexican Martini’s at the best frigin Tex-Mex place ever, Trudy’s, or the four of us trying to take an afternoon siesta to get ready for Saturday night; when we were together, we were having fun.

Even though what Austin had to offer did not make the weekend, there were certain “Austin specific” aspects of it that were integral parts:

First, I really enjoyed spending time with two of my other good high-school buddies, Rob and Colby, who are both residing in Austin for the summer. These enjoyable guys never seem to lose their luster. Although they both contain touches of Texas frat tradition that I am not accustomed to, these guys always help me realize that the average Jewish guy is a much better man than me. Whether I am trying to pick up women with Rob, or making fun of Colby trying to do the same, a good time is always obtainable as long as these guys are in the picture. Their friends are good guys too… as expected.

Second, instead of  sticking to the plan and going to the Saturday day-time party entitled “Fiji Island,” Mickey, Josh, Sam and I headed down to the Barton Creek Greenbelt . In our new-found appreciation of nature, my friends and I truly enjoyed buying some three dollar inner-tubes and giving floating down the river an honest chance. Although our 36″ tubes, were not properly equipped to handle the rushing rapids (due to all the rain) they served us well for the two hundred feet we floated.

Along with going with the tide, watching Josh struggle with the muddy river bank was quite a sight to see. I think he slipped five times and fell three; some quality entertainment.

Anyways, yes, Austin was great. Being joined by only three other people probably made the experience as nice as it was; our ability to agree on activities quickly helped us have a nice itinerary; and the heaping amount of alcohol that Trudy’s puts in their Mexican Martini’s (I was talking to any and every woman  after only one) and that Rob, Colby and the rest of ZBT provided us with Friday night helped us avoid what could have been a disastrous day of drinking at Fiji Island on Saturday.

All in all, the way I do Austin is changed forever. I will no longer go hoping to enjoy the fun but always regrettable times I have at the Frat parties. I will now venture down south seeking outdoor adventures with the right amount of company.

-pk

austin for the weekend

To my few faithful readers: I will be in Austin for the weekend. I am heading down there with my good friends Josh, Mickey, Sam and Rook – a guaranteed good time.

I will update you on the outing when I return. Have a nice weekend.

-pk

buzzbrews – the cult kitchen

Good-morning readers. Although Thursday is my favorite day, I like the forever morning vibe that Sunday gives off. Does anyone else ever feel like Sunday, up until about dark, has that drowsy A.M. feeling? Anyways, maybe it’s just that I went out last night, got a little drunk and ended up skimping on my sleep.

My friend Mickey, the socialite that he is, had a debutant party last night, and I was lucky enough to tag-along. Anyways, after drinking a little, dancing a lot and socializing a good amount, we headed over to Hotel ZaZa for the Modern Luxury Dallas magazine (I am working for them this summer) Bastille day party.

This was my first time to ZaZa; I like it. It was as expected, a good scene, with good-looking people. It kind of epitomizes what Dallas is trying to become, “young, hip, trendy,” a wannabe LA. I’d recommend ZaZa to people looking for an energetic, sceney night-spot; if you go into the evening with the right mindset (ready to conquer) you are sure to have a good time.

After a solid five hours of sleep, Mickey and I were ready to get back at it. Mick did some research and ended up figuring out that the “best breakfast in Dallas” was produced by the kitchen of BuzzBrews. Although the food was good, I won’t be going back. The place gave me a cultish sense; I felt like everyone there, customers included, were characters in some retro comic book.

I enjoyed the “fresh-water” which was watermelon juice with a touch of honey, and their coffee was also quite quenching. All in all, the flavors of the food, although nice, were not enough to overcome the sketchiness of the place.

My negative review will probably make all you Dallas readers curious. And yes, I’d say check the place out, I’m sure BuzzBrews is recruiting, and if you like the vibe, acceptance is probably not too hard to attain.

-pk

jet-setting joshua

My good friend, actually one of my best, Josh, just returned from what seems to have been a very unique travel experience. His journey began in Vail, where he frequented the wedding reception (but not wedding), of one of his unconventional cousins. He actually missed the wedding because he had to catch a flight to his next destination.

He was joined in the Gatwick (or Heathrow, not sure) airport by his girlfriend (don’t get too excited yet)… and her dad. I assume Josh was respectful and simply gave her a small-sized, impersonal, almost business-like hug, rather than what the nature of their relationship usually asks for in a much-awaited greeting. From there, the jet-setting trio excitedly hopped on a plane to land in none other than Ethiopia.

While in Africa, the three helped treat tuberculosis, maleria and even dabbled with AIDS. Based on his past, I’d always imagined Josh spreading AIDS, not trying to cure it. Either way, he did what he could.

I would introduce you to some of the gruesome details, but the essence of my blog is prompting me to showcase the nice kicks he got in Paris after his Ethiopian excursion.

I do not know the name of the model, but I wanted to just say that the color scheme is pretty smooth. If any readers have any details, please let me know. Here they are:

Those pics were taken by me on Josh’s Samsung BlackJack (pretty slick as well, more to come on that later). If the shoes look small, the pictures are true to reality.

-pk