The Allandale Reporter

Austin Public Library Bookstore Grand Opening this Saturday

On Saturday, February 28, 2009 the Austin Public Library will open a used bookstore named Recycled Reads. The Grand Opening will take place from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. at 5335 Burnet Road. The used bookstore will primarily be operated year round by volunteers with materials that are withdrawn from the library’s collection and from private donations. Thousands of books, videos, record albums, and assorted media will be sold for just $1 and $2 each.Click here for more information on the grand opening.

Allandale Village – Our Neighborhood Shopping Center

Tom Linehan

My memory of the stores that have come and gone in Allandale Village over the last 25 years is sparse. H-E-B has always been there. I remember a number of restaurants in the spot where Hangtown Grill now is, including Romeo’s, an Asian buffet restaurant, and, more recently, Dry Dock. These, of course, all came after the longstanding Pancho’s Mexican Buffet, which closed in the early 1980s. I miss the Radio Shack that moved out about a year or so ago. I remember getting haircuts at a barbershop on the side of the Allandale Village that faces Northland Drive. I was told the barbershop was originally on the front side of the shopping center facing Burnet Rd., but I don’t remember the name of the place. (It pre-dated Supercuts.)

Allandale Ambassadors neeeded - it's my park day

Hi folks –

It’s My Park Day will be Marth 7th, 2009. Allandale was one of the first neighborhoods to participate in It’s My Park Day, and the tradition continues this year.

This year there are two exciting locations: Austin Memorial Park, and Northwest Park.

We need volunteers to act as site contacts on the day of the event. The site contact is the central location for the volunteers at each clean up, they sign in volunteers, hand out t-shirts, and distribute snacks and water. They do need to be at least 18 years old, and available for at least 1 hour on April 12th between 9:00 AM - 05:00 PM.  They do not need to trim brush, pick up trash etc.

Support alternative forms of transportation in North Central Austin

Steven Zettner

Please, if you have a moment, send a quick email to Dan.Dargevics@CampoTexas.org before March 1 expressing support for the following projects that will help provide alternative forms of transportation in North Central Austin:

• Burnet sidewalks - ADA-compliant sidewalks from Koenig to 183.
• Rail with Trails - bike/ped trails along the city's Leander-downtown commuter rail line, would allow bicycles to get across town with a minimun of unsafe street crossings.
• Bus/Rapid Transit N Lamar/S Congress
• Bus/Rapid Transit Burnet/S Lamar
• Bicycle Infrastructure Improvements (city-wide)
• Bicycle, Shared Path, Connected Trails and Sidewalk Project (city-wide)

These are among the thousands of infrastructure projects being submitted for federal funding this year. Council Member Sheryl Cole estimated that only 20-30% of the projects from Austin will get funded. Demonstrating strong grass roots support can't hurt.

A look at the crestview metrorail station

Kay Newell

Saturday was the Open House for Crestview Station.  It was amazing to see the station and the MetroRail train, what a wonderful addition to Central Austin.  Just think, you can get on MetroRail at the Crestview Station and be downtown in 18 minutes or you can be at Lakeline in 25 minutes!  The trains are equipped with Wi-Fi and bikes are allowed depending on space.  MetroRail will be in service weekday mornings between 5:40 and 9:40 am and weekday afternoons between 3:45 and 7:45 pm.  The trains are quiet so you may not hear them coming, remember as you are traveling around our neighborhoods to come to a stop before the tracks - not on them.  This is a great opportunity to take alternative transportation and leave your car behind. Click here to see photos.

The February Issue of the Allandale Neighbor Is on its way

You may be greeted with the February Issue of Allandale Neighbor today whey you arrive home. Well if not today, then tomorrow, or maybe the day after. In this issue we include a number of articles about what is going on in the neighborhood and what's coming up plus an insert that we've called Allandale's Economic Stimulus Package. With it being a new administration and all, we figured it would take some time for the federal government's package to get to us here in Allandale so we've partnered with local merchants to kick start it. Use it.

Under the heading of "Know your Neighborhood," we have an article about Allandale Village. It is our neighborhood shopping center and one of the oldest suburban shopping centers in the city.

Green Garden Festival this Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Become an Ambassador

DATE: March 28  April 10

Become a MetroRail Ambassador for a Station near you.

Have you ever thought, I sure would like to be appointed an Ambassador to some exotic locale …  Here is your chance! Become a MetroRail Ambassador at the nine exotic stations for the new passenger rail line.

For the first two weeks of service, you can serve as one of two Ambassadors at each station in the morning and in the evening.  Ambassadors must come to one training prior to serving and sign up for at least two 3.5 hour shifts during the two week period.  You will help people understand how to use the new train, distribute information, answer questions, and work with Capital Metro staff to solve problems.

In return, Ambassadors will receive a special issue MetroRail Diplomatic Pass (good for one month).  You can also insist that others address you as Mr. or Mrs. Ambassador.

To become a volunteer:
e-mail: MetroRail.Ambassadors@gmail.com
call: 512 294 7446

Tour the new metrorail stations this saturday

This is an excellent opportunity for Allandale residents to "experience" the new Capital MetroRail stations.

Capital MetroRail Station Open Houses

Crestview Station – Saturday, Feb. 21
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
6920 North Lamar Blvd.
Bus routes: 1, 101, 300, 320, 350
Access St. Johns for limited parking at adjacent development

Austin Marathoners Run Through Allandale

Allandale residents lined up along the street to catch the Austin marathon runners coming through the neighborhood Sunday morning. At around 8:40 the leaders started coming through the intersection of Shoal Creek and Northland heading north on Shoal Creek. They turned left on White Rock, went north on Great Northern and headed east down Foster. The above shows the runners coming down Foster at the intersectino of Foster and Shoal Creek which was mile 17 in the race. The first photo is the leader and ultimate winner, Jeremy Borling from Chicago. A little over a minute later (1: 08)  the next runner appears (photo 2). The man in third place at this point in the race is Gilbert Tuhabonye (local trainer - Gilbert's Gazelles). He ultimately goes on to take second place in the event. At 11:00 a.m., there were still runners coming through. It was a perfect morning for the event albeit a little windy for the runners as they headed north. Congratulations to all Allandale residents like Pamela LeBlanc who participated in and completed the event! Finishing a marathon is a major accomplishment.