russell lewis: Rob Roy on the Creek - Austin, Texas - 04/05/10 10:09 AM
Rob Roy on the Creek - Austin, Texas
Rob Roy on the Creek Neighborhood is located south west of the original Rob Roy Neighborhood in Austin, Texas and across Bee Cave Road from Rob Roy on the Lake. Rob Roy on the Creek's boundaries are; Barton Creek Blvd. to the east, Bee Cave Road to the north, Riverhills Road to the west and the winding Barton Creek to the South. Developed a short time after original Rob Roy in the early 1980's and continuing today. There are only a few lots left in the area and most homes purchased these days are … (9 comments)

russell lewis: Rob Roy Neighborhood - Austin, Texas - 04/02/10 12:56 AM
Rob Roy Neighborhood - Austin, Texas
I know the Rob Roy Neighborhood and have worked here for twenty years! By coincidence, my first listing appointment back in 1989 (yes that was the last century) was for a home located in the Rob Roy Neighborhood. That home eventually  sold for $368,000 and though the sellers owed the bank more than that, they gladly paid the balance and thanked me. You have to remember that during this period Texas and other parts of the nation were going through the S&L Crisis with 1000-2000 foreclosures every month in Travis County alone! Every neighborhood was affected … (44 comments)

russell lewis: Architecture at the Umlauf Series - Thursday, April 1st, (No Fooling) 7:00PM - 03/31/10 11:38 AM
The second program of the Fourth Season of the Architecture at the Umlauf Series takes place Thursday, April 1st (No Fooling)
Doors open at  at 7:00 pm.
The event marks the second program of the fourth of this incredibly popular program featuring local Austin Architects in a beautifully intimate setting. As a result of the strong ties between AvenueOne and the Art and Architectural communities, the monthly series was founded and produced by two of my associates at AvenueOne Properties; Scott Harvey and Carla Umlauf (granddaughter of the esteemed sculptor). In cooperation with the Umlauf Sculpture Garden the lecture series is … (29 comments)

russell lewis: Open House in Rob Roy - 8208 Talbot Lane - Sunday, March 28th 2:00-4:00 PM - 03/26/10 07:09 AM
Open House in Rob Roy - 8208 Talbot Lane - Sunday, March 28th 2:00-4:00 PM
I list and sell homes in all parts of the Eanes School District because I live here and work here and frankly I love it!  Rob Roy on the Creek is situated south west of the intersection of Bee Caves Road and is an excellent neighborhood of homes ranging from $400K + to $1,950,000. The neighborhood lies within the acclaimed Eanes School District  which includes Forest Trail Elementary (the home of Healthy Bear), West Ridge Middle School and Westlake High School. Rob Roy on the Creek is situated comfortably near plentiful shopping, Lake Austin … (26 comments)

russell lewis: Austin's Annual Ziker Park Kite Festival- Still Keeping It Weird! - 03/15/10 12:36 AM
Sunday March 14, 2010 marked Austin's  Annual Zilker Kite Festival!
The annual contest held at Zilker Park  is one of a number of  Austin events that helps keep Austin Weird and fun at the same time. The festival was originally founded in 1928 by The Exchange Club, a volunteer organization that raises funds to support non-profits that work to stop child abuse. For many years the Austin Parks & Recreation Department has joined with Exchange Club to co-sponsor the event at Zilker Park! The festival is free and open to the public, and is very popular with kite aficionados from the serious to the silly ;-) Today … (61 comments)

russell lewis: Architecture at the Umlauf Series - Thursday, March 4th, 7:00PM - 03/03/10 10:52 PM
The opening program of the Fourth Season of the Architecture at the Umlauf Series takes this place Thursday, March 4th 1st. Doors open at  at 7:00 pm.
The event marks the beginning of the fourth of this incredibly popular program featuring local Austin Architects in a beautifully intimate setting. The monthly series was founded and is produced by two of my associates at AvenueOne Properties; Scott Harvey and Carla Umlauf (granddaughter of the esteemed sculptor) and is sponsored by our firm, AvenueOne Properties and hosted by The Umlauf Torchbearers. The lectures take place at the beautiful Umlauf Sculpture Garden Pavilion; Robert Steinbomer, AIA is … (27 comments)

russell lewis: When the Pitter-Patter of Little Feet is NOT a Welcome Sound! - 02/15/10 02:01 PM
Wake Up...I feel something jabbing my ribs and the words...WAKE UP, whispered loudly. Wait, what? My wife whispers louder and tells me she hears "something" downstairs! I groggily get out of bed and as she motions for me to "get a move on", I listen and realize she is right, something IS moving around downstairs. I nod and whisper, "I hope I did not leave the sliding doors ajar". Slowly leaving the bedroom, I say, "Maybe I should take a stick or something" to which my wife replies, "Whatever...you need to, "Man Up"and get down there and take care of the intruder in … (154 comments)

russell lewis: Incident at Victorias Secret and some Valentine's Day Advice - 02/12/10 07:26 AM
"If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?" - unknown
I was at Barton Creek Square this week on my way to the Apple Retail Store when I passed by the Victoria's Secret Boutique. I stopped for a moment to do some "window shopping" and as I looked over the displays I noticed a person inside I thought I recognized. Upon closer inspection I realized that the person in question was a fellow real estate agent who was obviously shopping for a little something for Valentine's Day. As I continued to watch I noticed that he seemed to be awkwardly looking … (97 comments)

russell lewis: Football Fans,The Superbowl and the New Orleans/Westlake Connection - 02/05/10 09:57 PM

My name is Russell and I am a football fan. There, I admitted it but considering where I was born and raised I never really had a chance.I grew up in West Texas, the epicenter of a state that already considers the sport just shy of a religion. You’ve seen “Friday Night Lights”, well that’s my part of the state. High School Football rules with the NFL and college ball running 2nd and a distant 3rd. As a child I remember watching the Dallas Cowboys with my Dad, early days with Don Meredith and Roger Staubach leading the team to … (96 comments)

russell lewis: 2900 Willowbridge Circle - Featured Home - 3rd Annual Austin Modern Home Tour - 01/27/10 04:39 AM
This Saturday, January 30, 2010 in support of my associate Dana Dean at  AvenueOne Properties, I will be helping her hold open 2900 Willowbridge Circle as part of the 3rd Annual Austin Modern Home Tour. As far as modern homes this house is nothing short of SPECTACULAR! Rebuilt in 2009 this Austin Luxury Home has breathtaking open expanses, site-built commercial steel doors. Complete with a huge island in an open gourmet kitchen, exposed beams, pecan built-ins, and unique texture. A private master bedroom suite includes an interior brick wall sitting area. 4th bedroom has kitchenette stubbed in wall and separate entrance from garage. Unique lighting … (52 comments)

russell lewis: Happy Holidays from Deep in the Heart of Texas! - 12/25/09 03:08 AM
A short while back I was running on Lady Bird Lake and passed a woman wearing a T-Shirt with the words:
God Bless The Whole World -No Exceptions
That phrase has crossed my mind almost every day since then. Now it's Christmas and whether you celebrate this event, Hannukah, Kwanza, Festivus or WHATEVER...I hope that you are blessed in ways that enrich your life and those around you. Charles Dickens is probably best known for "A Christmas Carol" and I think the following quote from the author sums up the holidays as good any I know:
I have always thought of … (83 comments)

russell lewis: Unexpected Gifts, Giving Back During the Holidays - 12/18/09 02:56 PM
I went to church with my wife at Thanksgiving and on the way out came across the Angels Afoot display in the main foyer just beneath the Prodigal Son Mural. Angels Afoot is a program that helps gather and distribute presents for underprivileged children or who are in foster care and will have nothing during the holiday season. I have volunteered with the group before as a delivery person and was deeply moved because my delivery was to a place that shelters children who have had to be removed from homes for their own safety. The counselors I met were so grateful … (61 comments)

russell lewis: Holiday Networking: Please STOP humping my leg! - 12/11/09 11:55 PM

I was recently listening to Jason Crouch's  Social Media Edge  blog talk radio show and his guest Chris Brogan actually used the phrase when discussing a very aggressive person who was vying for his time and business. The fact remains that many people don't seem to have any idea how pushy and irritating they can be (though many do intentionally) in business and social settings. Ironically while I was on office property tour with some of my associates earlier in the day I experienced the same behavior...literally. One of the homes we visited had an English Bulldog as a pet and as I am fan of the breed, … (142 comments)

russell lewis: Lost Creek Open House-2207 Cypress Point East-Sunday, December 13th 2:00-4:00 PM - 12/10/09 07:17 AM
Lost Creek Open House-2207 Cypress Point East-Sunday, December 13th 2:00-4:00 PM
I list and sell homes in all parts of the Eanes School District but I particularly enjoy working in Lost Creek! Why? Because Lost Creek is where my family has called home since 1992. Lost Creek, situated  south west of the intersection of  Bee Caves Road and Loop 360, is an excellent neighborhood of  homes ranging from $350,000  to $950,000. The neighborhood lies within the acclaimed Eanes School District and which includes Forest Trail Elementary (the home of Healthy Bear), West Ridge Middle School and Westlake High School. Lost Creek is … (21 comments)

russell lewis: Every Neighborhood Has One, This Halloween It's ME! - 11/01/09 05:42 AM
 
Austin, Texas is really in to Halloween and frankly it's one of the biggest holidays because we do take the moniker "Keep Austin Weird" very seriously! I have lived in the Lost Creek Neighborhood here in Austin for almost sixteen years and we are no different. Situated in the Eanes School District we have a large population of children of all ages so there is usually a good crowd of "Trick or Treaters" of all ages out haunting the night beginning around dusk and continuing to the wee hours or whenever the candy finally runs out! Halloween is a fun … (89 comments)

russell lewis: At What Point Did Disagreeing with an Idea, Person or Concept Become Heresy? - 10/07/09 12:08 AM

I took one of those Facebook quizzes awhile back and was moderately surprised to learn that I was "Moderately Liberal" in my political leanings (If leanings is a word). Now if you were to poll a cross section of people who know me you would get some widely contradicting opinions about this statement. For those with whom I hunt and fish I am known as an avid outdoors-man, gun owner and property rights advocate. I am also considered to have a strong attitude toward fiscal policy and don't really care for an invasive and over large Government. Because of these … (80 comments)

russell lewis: Architecture at the Umlauf Series - Thursday, October 1st 7:O0PM - 10/01/09 09:39 AM
The next event of the third season of the Architecture at the Umlauf Series season takes this place Thursday, October 1st. Doors open at  at 7:00 pm.
The monthly series was founded and is produced by two of my associates at AvenueOne properties; Scott Harvey and Carla Umlauf (granddaughter of the esteemed sculptor) and is sponsored by our firm, AvenueOne Properties and hosted by The Umlauf Torchbearers. The lectures take place at the beautiful Umlauf Sculpture Garden and the series is now in the second half of its hugely successful third season.  J.C. Schmeil AIA is the featured speaker. Catering will be provided by WINK. … (20 comments)

russell lewis: Too Old to Rock & Roll? Certainly NOT, Especially in Austin, Texas! - 09/29/09 09:47 AM
Too old to Rock & Roll, too young to die...  Ray Lomas 
A number of years ago during  SXSW here in Austin, Texas I was standing outside a club with a friend who worked as an A&R guy for a large record company waiting to see a band showcase. At one point he held out his hand and in it were the two biggest pills I had ever seen in my life! I looked at him and said, "Thanks man but I don't do that sort of thing anymore"! He just laughed, shook his head and replied, "Don't be a nitwit, These are … (84 comments)

russell lewis: 7808 West Rim Drive - Open House – Sunday, September 27th, 2-4 PM - 09/24/09 05:15 AM
Sunday, September 27th, 2-4 PM - I will be holding open 7808 West Rim Drive in Northwest Hills; one of Austin's finest neighborhoods. This home is absolutely gorgeous and as someone who does not use that description very often you will have to believe that this is a very special home. Built to high quality standards the home has a beautifully designed open floor plan with high ceilings, wood windows, dramatic family room with two-story fireplace and large living room, beautiful island kitchen with granite and stainless and many other upgrades. Don't just take my word for it. Come by for a visit … (28 comments)

russell lewis: Working from home - Russell's Outside Office - 09/16/09 12:33 AM

In the middle of the Austin's longest drought since the 1950's it has been a losing battle to try and save the yard...it's fried. Water restrictions are in place and are being enforced, and so we have retreated to our back deck overlooking the valley and tried to make it an oasis against the never ending heat. Last weekend, we actually had a very good rain and the weather has cooled to the semi-tolerable 70's in the mornings so I have had the pleasure of enjoying morning coffee while working outside after my morning run. I am enjoying the good life in … (55 comments)