Back to Austin to Surprise a Friend (Operation Putt-Putt)

August 2013 was a busy month for me and quick travels.  I made a quick trip to Williamsport, PA for the Little League World Series (my last blog entry).  As I was planning that trip I was perusing Facebook and saw my friend from high school, Deborah had invited me (and probably all of her FB friends) to benefit that she was holding for an annual bike ride that she is involved with called the "Mamma Jamma Ride".  This bicycle event raises funds for 10 charities that work to help those who are suffering from Breast Cancer and other women's health issues,  By the way Deborah lives in Austin, Texas and although I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to make it, but I wanted to try.  As the date was getting closer it looked as though the flights fro Dulles to Austin might be open (I have to fly stand by, so open flights are a must).  I also wanted to make it a total surprise, just show up.  I have done this before and it is pretty fun and knowing Deborah, I figured she would really enjoy the surprise.  As I was planning I looked over the Triple D list to see if there were any places that I hadn't been to in the Austin area to try and there were 4, so I figured why not!

I flew down and arrived at about 1030a and after getting a car and checking into the hotel I had reserved I headed off to a place I have visited on my last visit to Austin but had closed 20 minutes before I had arrived so I wasn't able to try.  I headed to  North Austin to a small sandwich shop in a small strip mall called "The Noble Pig".

The Noble Pig

It is a small place and I decided on getting their signature Noble Pig Sandwich on White Sourdough style bread.  The sandwich has spicy ham, pulled pork, provolone cheese and spicy bacon was delicious and served with chips and pickled veggies.  I was able to meet the co-owner and chef tat cooked with Guy on their episode.

The Noble Pig Sandwich

I really enjoyed the Noble Pig and although it was very busy their service was fast and friendly.  After returning to the hotel to relax and await my next DDD visit.  I went online and saw that another high school friend was passing through Austin as he made his way from Tampa, Florida all around the USA on his Harley.  I tried to get in contact with him but decided to head off to my next place and see if he would answer my call or text. 

I headed into Austin to probably one of the unique Trip D places I have ever been to, "Luke's Inside Out" which is not a traditional restaurant at all but a food trailer that is located outside of Gibson's Bar.   You go to the food trailer to order your meal and then go into the bar to get your drink and they deliver your meal to you in the bar.

This is Luke's Inside Out

Luke's has a nice menu of gourmet sandwiches that are accompanied with Parmesan Crusted chips.  I chose The Shrimp, which is Chipolte Rosemary glazed shrimp with blue cheese, apple and honey.  It doesn't sound like a great combination but it was very tasty, I would order it again, no doubt.

The Shrimp at Luke's Inside Out

As I left Luke's I got a text from my buddy John and as it happened he was staying at a place about 2 miles from Luke's, he asked if I was in Austin and I told him I'd be there in about 5 minutes.  He was staying at a real eclectic place called the Austin Motel, which was in a really cool nighttime area of Austin.

I met up with John and his buddies and we headed out to a real crazy bar just across the street from his hotel and I must tell you that his friends took me in as one of their own and that is a great feeling.  John is a crazy fun guy and his friends were equally the same.  We walked to Doc's and it was really busy and fun.  I don't really drink so I stayed with sodas but the rest got Doc's Signature drink, a Margarita with a pony-sized beer placed upside down in the glass.

Doc's in Austin

John and I

The Gang (Duane, me, Howard, Evelina and John)

We had a great time with the wait staff and just talking about their travels and why I was in Austin.  It had been a very long day for me, starting work at 430a, flying to Austin, checking our a few places and hanging with John and his buddies, so as they went off to a late dinner I decided to call it a day and get some rest.  Thanks to John, Duane, Howard and Evelina for welcoming me and making me feel part of the group.

I got up on day two which would end with my surprising Deborah at her fundraiser but that wasn't planned until 7p so I decided to make a road trip to College Station about 90 miles east to a Triple D places that I figured I would probably not be able to get to again. it took about 2 hours to drive to the small town of Wellborn just about 5 miles from Texas A&M University.  "Hullabaloo's Diner" is a very unusual place, it's a 50s style diner moved from the east coast and built into a Texas style honkytonk complex.

Hullabaloo's Diner in Wellborn, Texas

Inside Hullabaloo's, a classic 50s diner

The owner is from Philadelphia and has brought the Philly style cuisine to central Texas.  I chose the Redneck Philly Cheese steak, which is the classic cheese steak with peppered bacon.

Redneck Cheese steak

The huge sandwich was really not a sandwich but a knife and fork meal, very tasty.  I loved the peppered bacon!  I didn't get to meet the owner but my server brought my book to him and he signed it.  I got there when it opened at 11a and by the time I left there were people waiting for seats!

I had noticed on the drive to the diner that I had not only passed the A&M campus, but also the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, so I decided to stop in and check it out.  The Museum is dedicated to the life of President George Herbert Walker Bush, our 41st President.  I really enjoyed the museum.  There is a very neat statue dedicated to the collapse of the Berlin Wall, with a replica of the wall as it is being jumped over by horses to symbolize the German people leaving the Communist East Berlin into Free West Berlin.  My other favorite places in the museum were the replica Oval Office, replica office at Camp David and a video display of President Bush's interactions with Dana Carvey on "Saturday Night Live"

Presidential Limo

Type of Plane that he flew during World War 2

White House Display

At the Desk

"NO, Mr. Gorbachev!"

State Dinner Place setting

Air Force 1 model

Replica Camp David Office

Berlin War Statue

After returning back to Austin I got ready for my last Triple D visit before putting Operation Putt-Putt into action.  After a short rest at the hotel I headed to a very unique place, "Foreign and Domestic" looks like a really plain diner type of place, but looks are definitely deceiving.  Inside this place is fine dining all the way.  I was seated at the counter next to the kitchen so I got to watch some real great chefs and sous chefs at work.

Don't let looks deceive this place is fine dining

The menu wasn't large but it was very gourmet.  My server explained all of the different entrees and how they were prepared.  I found the prices to be a bit high, but even before I ordered I knew that whatever I got would be delicious.  I decided on the Ricotta Ginudi, which is a gnocchi-like pasta made with ricotta cheese instead of potato.  It had a light unique taste and although I love gnocchi, I really liked the ginudi!  It had a sauce with a slight bite of heat, that was delicious.  My Triple D count now stands at 319!

Foreign and Domestic Sous Chefs hard at work

Ricotta Ginudi

Now it was time to put Operation Putt-Putt into action, which was the reason that I was in Austin.  About 10 days prior I had sent a text to Deborah, which is something I do about once a month just to see how she is doing and she had jokingly asked me to come for the Mini Golf fundraiser, now I didn't say no, but said I was working and we left it at that.  To make the surprise even better I had sent her a text just before leaving for the restaurant to wish her good luck and success that night.

The fundraiser was to be held at Peter Pan Mini Golf in Austin.  This place has two courses and has been an Austin institution since 1948.

They had set up the fundraiser so that anyone who played between 7 ad 9pm and presented the cashier a Mamma Jamma card, 100% of the money paid would go towards the charities.  The owner of the place rides with the team and opened his place to Deborah and her team.  If you'd like to contribute google Mamma Jamma ride in Austin and look up Team Survivor, Deborah and all of her team are Beast Cancer Survivors.

Peter Pan overseeing his Golf Kingdom

The place has a very small parking lot and as I pulled in there was Deborah and I thought, "Oh No!, shell see me parking", but as luck had it there was one spot and I was able to go by her and she didn't see me!  I got out and walked to the entrance (I was wearing an Oakton Cougars, our high school, shirt so there would be no doubt who it was) and shouted "Let's Play some Golf!".  She was very surprised, so all I could say was Mission ACCOMPLISHED!

I didn't even get to play a round as I spent the entire time catching up with Deborah and her team and friends and a nicer group of people I have never met.  I really hope to return for more of the fundraisers, it was a great time!

Deborah and I

YES, it was humid!

In closing this was a great trip to see and support and old friend, whom I greatly admire for all the great things she does for others, I felt is was a great honor to be a part of it.  Thanks so much to Deborah, LOVE YA!  Best to you and all of your team! 

Triple D in Williamsport???

OK OK, I know, Guy has not visited any restaurants in the Williamsport, PA area for DDD, but I wanted to blog about one of my favorite places to go each year, the Little League World Series (LLWS) at the Peter McGovern Little League Headquarters in South Williamsport, PA.  This trip has become an annual trip for me and I am lucky because my sister Sue and her husband Dale live just south of Williamsport in Allenwood, PA. 

I looked at the schedule of the days and games for the LLWS and decided that the best time for me to go would be days 2 and 3.  Both days had 4 games scheduled and I would be able to see almost all of the teams that had won the right to play in the Series.  Leading up to the event ESPN televises all of the United States regional finals and this year a team from the Richmond area was in the Southeast Regional finals and I was really hoping that finally I would see a team from Virginia at the Series, but alas, they lost 5-3 to a tea from South Nashville, Tennessee.  I drove up to my sisters after work on Day 1 of the series but decided not to go that night.  The drive from Leesburg to the Williamsport area takes about 3 hours.  Actually I tell people to leave Leesburg on Route 15 North and in just over 3 hours turn right and you'll be there!


The Little League World Series complex is made up of 2 stadiums, Howard J Lamade Stadium, which is the one that most people know.  It seats about 10,000 and is built into a hill and that hill can seat up to 30,000.  The hill plateaus in the middle and then rises again where the headquarters of Little League International is based.  On the upper hill, very few sit and watch, it is used by kids to slide down on flattened cardboard boxes.

Sliding down the hill

The second stadium is smaller and seats just over 6,000 and is called Volunteer Stadium.  the name is dedicated to all the volunteers that make the LLWS and Little League operate worldwide.  It is pretty amazing that just about everyone working at the LLWS from the Ushers to the Grounds Crew to the Umpires all volunteer their time and pay their own way from all over the world!  The umpires are selected from all over the world and get one chance to participate.

The field for the LLWS is made up of 16 teams 8 from the USA and 8 from the World.  It is actually 2 tournaments being held at the same time, the USA teams play one double elimination set and the International teams play another and it culminates on the second weekend with Championship weekend where a USA team wins a championship and the World crowns there champion who them meet in the LLWS Championship game.  This year a new region, Australia was added as well as the Europe-Africa region was represented with a team from Brno, Czech Republic (a first from that country).

LLWS Welcome Hedge

The first game of the day was scheduled for 1pm at Volunteer and featured Taiwan (or Chinese Taipei) vs. Ottawa Canada.  I arrived at the complex 50 minutes before the game and the stadium was already full!  I was able to find a standing area with good sight lines so I watched the game from there.  I really enjoy seeing the international teams and hearing them recite the Little League pledge in their own language at the start of the games as well as the playing of their national anthems. 

Canada in Blue and Taiwan in Green during introductions

Taiwan is a long time powerhouse team in the LLWS and they really used a few big hits to win this game early.  Through it all the parents of both teams cheered on their kids throughout.  I still don't know how the cheerleader-dad of the Taiwan team still has a voice after all the cheering he does!  After the game both teams high five each other and bow to the cheering sections of their opponents

Taiwan and Canada congratulating each other after the game

I headed over to Lamade to see the 3pm game between Chula Vista, California and Grosse Point, Michigan which would start at 3p and I arrived at 205p and there wasn't a seat to be had!  This year they refurbished the stadium removing the bleachers with seats.  What was so disappointing was that people were hoarding and saving seats, I saw one woman saving 8 seats!  To me that is the epitome of rude!  This is a problem that the Little League needs to address, as both days went on I could see many of the ushers trying to help the situation, I hope it doesn't go to a ticket distribution system, but something needs to be done, that's for sure!  I decided to go back over to Volunteer and get a good seat for the game I was really wanted to see, the first ever game for the Czech Republic in the LLWS vs. the always powerful team from Japan. 

Brno, Czech Republic

Tokyo, Japan

Coaches and Umps in  Pregame Conference

In the Little League they have a rule called "The Mercy Rule", if a tea is winning by 10 or more runs at the endo0 of the 4th Inning then the game is ended.  I thought if there was ever a game in the tournament that would have this rule used it would be this game, but the Czech team played great and kept the game close.  I planned to meet my sister and brother-in-law for the late game at 8p at Lamade, and they showed up early so they joined me in the stands for the end of the game.  Japan won but I was really impressed with the Czech team.

Teams meet after a hard fought game

After the game ended we headed up to watch the 8pm game on the Lamade Hill.  The stadiums are separated by a concourse that houses a huge gift shop, food vendors and concessions, a picnic area with TV screens to watch the ESPN televised games (all f the games are televised) and the ESPN studio.  As we made our way past the studio there was Chris McKendry, the very attractive ESPN anchor, later on I saw Orel Hershiser, the Dodger great, Nomar Garciaparra from the Red Sox and Karl Ravech ESPNs baseball host in the studio.

ESPNs Chris McKendry and Kyle Petersen on the ESPN Studio on the LLWS Concourse

Chris McKendry from ESPN

ESPNs Karl Ravech and Nomar Garciaparra

We headed up the hill to find a good spot to put our chairs and found a good spot in Right Field for the game between Newark, Delaware and Urbandale, Iowa.  Both teams looked good early on and then Newark just exploded and won pretty easily.  The night was perfect weather wise and the hill gives you some really unique visuals.  I would liken it to the Bleachers at Wrigley.  One real neat thing is the people who go each year know the curvature of the hill and cut the legs of their chairs.

The Big Stadium

As seen from the hill!

We watched a really good game, the team from Newark was very impressive, a real powerful team. They ended up playing really good baseball, no home runs just real fundamentally sound ball. 
Little League games are 6 innings, so the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is sung during the 4th Inning Stretch!

Sportsmanship after the game

After one full day we headed back to my sisters looking forward to seeing a few more games the second day, which would be Elimination Day.  All the games on Day 3 (my second) would have the losers from the first two days and the winners move on in the tournament and the losers eliminated from winning the title but they would be playing at least one more game.

I arrived about an hour before the noon game and got a good seat in Volunteer for the Puerto Rico vs. Perth, Australia.  This is the first time a team from Australia was in the LLWS and this was a great game!  It was scoreless into the 4th when Puerto Rico broke through with 3 runs and ended up- winning 4-0.  The fans from Perth were great, I heard a lot of their chant "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Oy Oy Oy !"   The Puerto Rican parents countered with the "Ole Ole" chant!

After that game I got over the Lamade almost 90 minutes prior and it was the same story!  Little League needs to address the seat saving thing, it makes a great time very frustrating!   I decoded to walk around the facilities and then take in some of the 3pm game from the hill. 

On the concourse they have this very cool sign that has arrows of all the teams and how many miles their town is from Williamsport.  It is sort of like the sign from the TV show "M*A*S*H"

Concourse between the two stadiums

Team Mileage signs

I watched a bit of the game from various points of the hill and then decided to call it a day.  As I was walking out I noticed some kids playing something unusual on one of the practice fields so I ambled up to see what it was.  It was the kids fro Perth, who has just been eliminated from contention playing Australian Rules Football!  I guess I saw another LLWS first, I bet that Aussie Football has never been played at the LLWS before and it just reiterated why this is the best sporting event you can attend (in my opinion), it's all about kids playing games for the love of the game!

A LLWS first - Aussie Football being played on the grounds!

Views from The Hill

Dugout the LLWS Mascot