Duran Duran - A View To A Kill

Last night I was discussing the upcoming James Bond movie.  This lead to a discussion of Bond movies in general, as well as best opening theme songs.  The video above is for my favorite (it led the group's popularity along with "Live and Let Die").   Watch the video: it's the most 80's thing you'll do today.  

If you haven't seen A View to a Kill here's what you need to know: Christopher Walken is the villain, Grace Jones is the bad Bond girl, blimps are important to the plot, and there is a cool action sequence on the Eiffel Tower.  Not to spoil the plot of a movie from 1985 (which you've probably seen on TBS anyway), but it was cited by my microeconomics professor as an example of a Bond villain attempting to get rich by screwing up supply of a product (a product which coincidentally had its supply screwed up in 2021 in part by the Texas storm which knocked out my power for 3 days).  On the bad side, there is worst use of a Beach Boys song I have ever seen in a movie.    

Drinks: Wu Chow's Mai Tai

Because Everything Tastes Better in a Ceramic Parrot

If you are in Austin and looking to impress others by ordering a delicious mai tai in a parrot mug, then go to Wu Chow.  I already knew the food was good, but I was happily surprised when my after-dinner cocktail arrived in the above pictured vessel.  

If you prefer to eat/drink outside these days, Wu Chow does have a patio.    

[Note: Wu Chow's mai tai is great, though the best tasting mai tai I've had all year was obtained at the Ritz-Carlton in Ft. Lauderdale. They also have patio dining; however, their patio looks across A1A (the very route Vanilla Ice loves) to the Atlantic as opposed to overlooking W. 5th.  Said mai tai was not served in a ceramic parrot, so Wu Chow wins on presentation.]

Sci-Fi: Dune, the 1984 Version

 As you may know, a remake of Dune is coming out next month.  From what I've read online, it's going to be good.  What you may not know is that David Lynch (yes, the director of Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, and Twin Peaks) directed a movie version of Dune in 1984.  It can be a strange, often hard to follow movie plot for those who haven't read the book. It also wastes the talents of an impressive list of actors and the director.  However.... it's also visually interesting and full of enough Lynch-esque touches that if you are a Lynch fan (or a fan of odd sci-fi) it's worth seeing.  Furthermore, it has Sting reveling in villainy and a soundtrack by Toto.  

Should you watch this movie before seeing the new Dune?  If you like David Lynch and/or classic cult sci-fi movies then yes.  As a bonus, if you live in Austin you can catch it the 1984 Dune on the big screen at the Alamo Drafthouse Village and Slaughter locations through September 29th.    

Film Trivia:  David Lynch turned down directing Return of the Jedi before agreeing to make Dune.  Ewoks by David Lynch? Probably much cooler and/or more terrifying than the Ewoks we were given; definitely better dancers.

Road Trips: Nashville

I recently drove to Nashville and back.  Here are a couple of points:

• I'm happy to report that the I-40 bridge over the Mississippi River is open again.  
• With the bridge up and functioning again, the trip is do-able as a 14 hour drive from Austin.  That's about the same amount of time as driving to Taos (a road trip I've made many times, the last time being in May).
• Nashville hot chicken is good.  If you've never tried it, I strongly recommend getting some while visiting.  I've been to Prince's and Hattie B.'s.  The former is the famous progenitor of the concept (and when I went there was a long line); the latter has multiple locations around town and can be more easily procured.  
• If you are in Austin, and you want to try hot chicken, Tumble 22 is excellent.  Their trailer behind Star Bar made me a fan not only of hot chicken but also of Duke's Mayonnaise.  
• Unless you have a thing for painfully hot spices, stick with the mid-level of seasoning.  You'll enjoy the heat as well as the flavors of the spices and the chicken.  
• There is a Hattie B.'s in Las Vegas, in the Cosmopolitan.
• The Loveless Cafe is worth visiting.  I had a great breakfast there, and I'm still thinking about the biscuits w/ peach preserves.

I don't have much else to report, though I am considering going back to see a Predator's game at some point as well as to hit a few restaurants downtown.  

August 2021 Austin Residential Real Estate Market Statistics

Data compares August 2020 to August 2021.  Visit abor.com/marketstatistics for more information and for charts on additional counties in Austin's MSA.   

Visit us at Floyd Real Estate, LLC, if you are thinking about buying or selling property (residential, commercial, or land) in the Central Texas area.   We would be happy to advise you on your real estate related needs.  

Floyd Real Estate is a Texas real estate brokerage, TREC Lic. #9003790

Movies: Top Gun Maverick

 Sadly, I read this morning that the much anticipated Top Gun: Maverick release date has been postponed until May 2022 (owing, of course, to COVID concerns).  

9th Expanse Novel Coming in November

  Expanse fans: the 9th novel in the series, titled Leviathan Falls, will be published on November 16th.  You can preorder on Amazon or ask your local bookstore about preordering a copy.