Jazz Gaining Popularity in DFW, Deep Ellum

For Jazz lovers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, things have been improving quite a bit recently. According to Pegasusnews.com, the DFW area is experiencing a Jazz boom, bringing things closer to the old days where Dallas was a huge city for Jazz. Deep Ellum is the major part of town that is leading the revitalization. Many new venues are opening up that cater to the Jazzy ear, and DFW residents are appreciating it. A boost in popularity of Jazz among young, local talent is also a big factor in the new Jazz culture.  This influx of talent is giving DFW its own style and flavor of Jazz, something that is very important in shaping the music culture. Many are hoping that the scene continues to grow and flourish. It would be great to see Dallas restored to the Jazz empire that it was in the 1920s and 1930s. Get out there and support these small venues! It is the most important thing you can do to stimulate this new movement! For more information on specific venues and for the full story, check this link out.

Musicians know how much space their equipment can take up. Guitars, drums, pianos, horns, and other instruments take up a lot of space. Equipment like amps, speakers, boards, wires, cords, and microphones can add up. Not even to mention that technology upgrades can cause you to repurchase many of the items that you already have.  What can be done to free up space in your residence or studio when not using certain equipment? A storage unit is a fantastic solution to this problem. The security offered by today’s storage facilities is a huge plus for those storing music equipment, which can be very expensive and valuable. On top of that, a climate-controlled unit is perfect for protecting items of this nature. Make a smart decision and check out some storage facilities in the DFW area with similar options.

Storms in Houston tonight, protect your vehicles!

For those of you living in the Houston area, rain is coming your way tonight. There is an 80% chance of rain after 10pm, but the storms should not be too sevre. They will likely be thunderstorms, however, so be ready for a lot of rainfall and a lot of noise when you are trying to sleep tonight! After tonight, the rest of the forecast for the week looks pretty good. No more storms to worry about, and temperatures should return to a comfortable level.

IF you have a nice car, boat, or RV, storms can be a bit of an issue when considering possible damage to your vehicle. Many of us who are not lucky enough to own a house with huge garage space have to figure out something to do to ensure our vehicles are protected from weather and thieves alike. So what options do you have? The best option is to get a Houston storage unit that can fit you auto, boat, or RV comfortably. For cars, a 10x20 unit should be the perfect size, unless you have a massive sedan or big truck. For most vehicles this is perfect. Boats and RVs vary quite a bit as far as size and luxury goes, so be sure to check what each local facility offers for storing these items. Considering the fact that Houston has pretty consistent, mild weather, protection from thieves is another great reason to use self-storage. Most storage facilities are very secure and take numerous precautions to ensure the protection of your unit and its belongings.

Lubbock- Red Raider Football

There is a huge weekend in college football as it is everyone's last chance to bolster their record and improve their postseason outlook. So much chaos and uncertainty in the rankings and standings will be cleared up after this weekend. For the Big 12, things seemed to be in order prior to last week. Kansas State looked to be the obvious choice for winning the conference. They played Baylor last week which seemed to be a pushover game. Baylor had different ideas and romped the undefeated Wildcats by 28 points. Now the conference title is in reach for 3 teams: Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas State. 

Texas Tech is unfortunately not one of the teams that has a chance to win the Big 12. The Lubbock squad does have a chance for a bowl game still and they are pretty much a lock for postseason football. Texas Tech, however, has a chance to prove that they deserve a better bowl against Baylor. Before last week, this game meant a lot less. Now that Baylor has beaten Texas, a win in this game for Texas Tech could help them bolster their resume. So be ready to cheer on the Red Raiders and their number 1 passing offense this Saturday at 2:30 PM ET. 

Once the season is over, look into storing your tailgate gear instead of throwing it in your garage. You can be certain that your belongings will be protected and that they will be good to go when next year rolls around.  There are many terrific facilities in the Lubbock self storage area waiting for your stuff!

Amarillo Update- Thanksgiving

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Keep an eye out for increased police patrol over the Thanksgiving holiday the next few days in the Amarillo area. According to ConnectAmarillo.com, the Texas Department of Transportation gave a grant to the Amarillo Police Department in an effort to beef up the amount of officers on patrol. Cracking down on impaired driving and speeding are the main goals of this expanded police force. Do not expect any leniency with the laws during this time period. Officers will certainly be pushing to enforce all laws in order to justify the money received from the Texas Department of Transportation. This is a typical move in pretty much every community over Thanksgiving each year. Be sure to obey all laws especially in regards to driving under the influence, speeding violations, and seat belt violations. It is always a better idea to take a taxicab home than try to make your way home behind the wheel after consuming a few drinks. Be safe, enjoy the holiday, and make sure you take time to reflect on what you are thankful for!

Once the holiday is over, make sure to clear up all the clutter from seasonal decorations by booking an Amarillo selfstorage unit. Self storage is a fantastic way to deal with the overwhelming feeling of having to much stuff in your place. Seasonal decorations for Thanksgiving and Christmas are a huge contribution to clutter. Make the smart and affordable move to a quality, affordable self storage facility in your area. There are plenty to choose from and you might be surprised on how cheap and convenient storage really is.

El Paso General News

The forecast this week looks fantastic through Friday, with temperatures predicted to remain in the low 70s. A zero percent chance of precipitation compliments this forecast very well. Not that it rains too much in El Paso, but it does happen from time to time.

The general election last Tuesday reflected a continuing trend with El Paso voters: low turnout. Only 46% of registered voters in El Paso made it to the polls on Tuesday, which was even less than the turnout in 2008. Just being plain too busy is the main reason attributed to the low turnout, but this is a common thing for El Paso. 44% of registered voters voted in 2004 and only 42% voted in 2000. 65% of voters this year voted to reelect Barack Obama, while Texas as a whole gave 57% to Mitt Romney (Source).

University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) opened the 2012-13 Men's College Basketball season with a very comfortable victory over Oral Roberts last Friday as UTEP won 69-49. This Thursday, the team is set to travel to Tucson to face the University of Arizona Wildcats, who are much tougher competition. Arizona is currently ranked #12 in the nation and looks to be one of the best teams in the Pac-12. The Miners will have to give it all they've got if they want to upset the Wildcats Thursday night. UTEP does not play again until having to travel to Norman, Oklahoma on the 22nd. This should be another tough challenge that tests the skills of the Miners.

Lastly, if you are looking for a storage unit in El Paso, there are many good options available in the area with updated move-in specials. For example, you can save up to 50% off of the first month's rent, which can be a huge help in getting that first month paid for. Now is a great time to get an El Paso storage unit, as the season is offering very competitive pricing.

NFL Texas: Midseason Update

Though you have probably already whipped your tailgate gear and grills out of self storage, its that time of the year to get out in full force and support your favorite NFL or college football team. This post will center on the general state of Texas NFL teams. The leader of the pack are the Houston Texans, who boast a 7-1 record at the halfway point of the season. Led by J.J. Watts and a fearsome defense, Houston looks poised for a playoff run. When you consider the steady decision making of Matt Schaub and the powerful yet dynamic play of running back Arian Foster, many will ask what can derail this team. Only Aaron Rodgers and the prolific passing assault of the Packers have been able to slow them down.

The Dallas Cowboys, on the other side of the spectrum, have not had the season they were hoping for considering the amount of talent on the team. The 'Boys are 3-5 heading into week 10, where they face a absolutely critical match-up with division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, who are also 3-5. Injuries have affected them a bit, especially with Demarco Murray being out, but there is no way this team should be 3-5. They need to step up and close out games by doing the little things, which is good news considering the ability to fix these things is up to Dallas themselves. Their fate is in their hands, something that all teams hope for.

 It should be a very exciting finish to the season, with only one undefeated team left and no one looking invincible. Injuries are starting to affect almost every team, so we will see which teams can step up and carry themselves deep into the playoffs. Stay tuned for more updates on the Texas NFL teams!

Welcome to All Things Texas. If you cannot tell already, this is a blog about everything Texas- sports, news, food, you name it. A variety of topics will be addressed on a fairly consistent basis, we just want to keep the conversation going! Please comment and share on our blog if you like it!