The Sounding of Two Canons

Boy were we out of the loop on this one…. For months we were wondering when this Midland mainstay would re-open, and we finally quit asking our friend Natasha Brooks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Brooks who have owned the Mr. Brooks Barbecue for 30 years in Downtown Midland. 

Natasha will always have a special place in both of our hearts.  As one of the first people I (Cory) met when I moved to Midland, she was constantly trying to set me up with a certain guy on a blind date and I always refused (“I know this guy Chris, he would be perfect for you….”)  Needless to say, she was right, and though we eventually met on our own she still takes credit for us meeting, and rightfully so.  HOWEVER, Natasha, you most definitely dropped the ball on keeping us updated on the restaurant’s reopening!  We read the great news on Monday in the paper, and I promptly called her and asked her, what good is it to know a famous Midland BBQ family if she is not going to keep us in the loop on these things???  Doesn’t she know we have a very important blog to write?  J  He he.  She said they actually opened a week earlier than they expected, and that OF COURSE she was going to call me and Chris and tell us about it.  All kidding aside, we are so pumped and excited for the Brooks family that they have recovered from the malicious fire that burned down their restaurant last August.  The arsonists were never caught, which is terribly disappointing, but we are hoping more security measures will be taken this time to prevent anything from happening to the beloved restaurant again.

And – MOST importantly — don’t worry, Mrs. Brooks’ enormously popular pies are back.  Settle down people, it’s all going to be okay. 

C&C

Back Cookin’ Again:

Mr. Brooks Barbecue opens today for first time since arson destroyed business

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2010/03/07/news/top_stories/for_monday_brooks_barbecue_arson_fire_re-opening.txt#ixzz0hn971SWZ

Mr. Brooks Barbecue is located at 501 E. Texas Ave. and is open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday night until 9 p.m.

We’re sure you’re wondering, why haven’t Cory & Chris posted lately? (At least we’re hoping you were wondering that).  The reason is, there has been nothing going on in Downtown Midland.  True Story!  Nothing, or very little.  When we were asked to blog as volunteers on this site, we agreed in the hopes of raising awareness for the many citizens who would like to see more in Downtown Midland.  We were also told that they really wanted us to be honest, and we always try to do so, while trying to remain optimistic as well.  In any case, we are sorry to report, there was nothing going on last weekend, or next weekend, or the weekend after that (that we know of) in Downtown Midland, which is unfortunate.  We wish there was.  However, being the optimists we are, we’ll just blame it on the fact that it is Spring Break next week, and we are hoping that that is the reason.  In any case, you may see us getting creative, and branching out into non-Downtown Midland, or Midland proper, this month of March (so as not to waste perfectly good blog space).  At least April looks more promising.

All is not lost, however, as Gary P. Nunn is performing at the end of the month at the annual Buckshot Bash Downtown at the Midland Center on Friday night, March 26^th.  Additionally, a great lineup was announced last week for the street concert at Celebration of the Arts (we do love when there are street concerts Downtown).  Performing in Centennial Plaza on Saturday night, May 15^th, will be Asleep at the Wheel and Stoney LaRue, with special guest Seth James (Celebration of the Arts 2010 is set for this year from May 14-16^th; Street Concert will be seating on plaza grounds, with stage on Wall Street).  Looking forward to it.

C&C

 Girls Night Out Preview Party

Midland Center

February 25 6-10 p.m.

Appetizers, Drinks, and Silent Auction

Ladies Luncheon

Hilton Grand Ballroom

February 26, 11:30 a.m.

Featuring Speaker Emory Austin

The Princess Tea

Hilton Grand Ballroom

February 27, 10:30 a.m.

Featuring a performance by Midland Festival Ballet 

Shopping

Friday, February 26 - Time: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Price: $5.00

Saturday, February 27^th - Time: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Price: $5.00

Sunday, February 28^th - Time: Noon - 4:00 p.m., Price: $5.00

More info at: http://www.jlweb.org/midland/npo.jsp?pg=home

Nothing to do in Midland tonight?  Looking for something to do?  Spend a night at the Ballet in Downtown Midland! 

One day Chris calls me and says, Cory, I went to the best place for lunch today.  It must be new, just waiting to be discovered, you have to go!  So I went with a friend a couple of days later, and he was RIGHT.  The food was delicious.  It is a mom-and-pop family restaurant, owned by a married couple, and the place was very friendly, clean, open and inviting.  The service was great, and I could not believe we hadn’t eaten there before!  After all, it was right by Downtown Midland, very near the Taste of Chicago. 

As I was checking out, I asked the owners how long they had been open.  Two years.  That’s right, open two years, so no this is not a brand new restaurant that we have “discovered.”  Oh well.  Just in case there are more of you out there who have never heard of it, we highly recommend you try the original home-style cooking.  I recommend the chicken fajitas, Chris recommends the nachos, and my father-in-law likes the smothered burrito, for what it’s worth (we didn’t say it was health food).  Enjoy.  C&C

Don Victor Tacos

310 South Terrell Street Midland, TX 79701-5353 - (432) 218-9155

Two years ago we went to a wedding in Downtown Fort Worth of two friends of ours (the groom was a friend of mine from law school, and the bride was a friend of Chris’ from growing up in Midland; it is such a small world we can’t even tell you).  The band that played at their wedding was a good friend of theirs, Josh Grider.  We would like to take a minute to invite all of you Midlanders to brave the cold weather tonight, stop by The Ranch and check out an Austin band on the rise, the Josh Grider Trio, opening up for the Josh Abbott Band tonight. 

It never ceases to amaze us the musical acts, mostly Texas country music acts, that come through town and perform at The Ranch to little or no fanfare: Reckless Kelly, Pat Green, Robert Earl Keen, Roger Creager, Cory Morrow, Jack Ingram, Charlie Robison, Eli Young, Honeybrowne, Asleep at the Wheel, and the Bellamy Brothers, just to name a few.  We ourselves rarely go to the Ranch, if ever (we’re either boring or old, take your pick) but we applaud the many years of live music and major acts, along with those yet-to-be-discovered, that they have brought to town.   Pretty impressive for a small-town live music venue.  Thanks to The Ranch for the live music…. and welcome to West Texas Josh!

As my co-worker and Chris’ friend Pat remarked to me today that our blog has “gone downhill” (That’s a bold statement…. You may be one of only two readers of this blog, but Chris’ Nana would definitely not agree with you), I have decided to let out his beloved lunch secret, that Wednesdays are FAJITA DAY at Romie’s Restaurante. 

That’s right, I want all of you who work Downtown and are looking for hot, quick, and delicious fajitas to start frequenting this restaurant on Wednesdays like Pat does.  It really is a great special, and the fajitas are brought almost immediately to your table for just $6.99. And now that the secret is out, maybe Pat will have a harder time finding a table…..  J

Romie’s really is a Midland institution.  We mentioned Romies back in 2008, cheering the restaurant owners’ generosity in offering a free lunch for the needy on Thanksgiving.  Still a class act, and a fantastic place to go for lunch.  Enjoy.

Class Act - Romie’s Mexican Restaurant

http://livemidlandtexas.com/the_sounding_of_two_canons/2008/12/01/class-act-romies-mexican-restaurant/

Romie’s - lunch done right near downtown

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2010/02/04/life/top_stories/doc4b6af20c5065e389122174.txt

Romie’s Mexican Restaurante, located at 701 S. Marienfeld St., is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Anyone who reads our blog knows that we are big fans of Cancun Grill. We actually have three favorite places to eat in Midland, which are (1) Cancun Grill, (2) Wall Street, and the (3) Garlic Press (Luigi’s is an honorable mention for nostalgia reasons). All three have excellent lunch menus, but since the first two are located Downtown we eat at those two more frequently, while reserving Garlic Press for the extra special occasions. Depending on what day you ask us is what answer you will receive when asking us our personal opinions on which one of the three is our very favorite. But if we had to pick one, we would have to say that Cancun Grill located in Downtown Midland is in our opinion the best place to eat in Midland, Texas.

If you don’t know their story, owner Joe Torres and co-founder Javier Valles were popular employees of Midland Country Club before they left to open their own restaurant, Cancun Grill at its original location on Big Spring Street. We ate there often at their old location, and like to say we knew them before they made it big. Since they have moved Downtown, they have really hit the big time, becoming a real Midland fixture in just a few short years.

We love Cancun because it is FESTIVE. The food is always fresh, the service is always impeccable, and the owners and employees are friendly. It really is the place where everyone knows everybody. If it’s a Friday or Saturday – make reservations or prepare to wait, because it will be packed. We cannot stress this enough: the food is solid. Today we ordered the shrimp and tilapia tacos, and they were excellent. If you haven’t tried their Roasted Corn Queso, please do so. It’s famous for a reason, and highly addictive. Though this is just two people’s humble and highly subjective opinion, we just finally had to devote an entire post to this amazing restaurant. Keep up the good work guys.

http://www.cancunbarandgrill.com/

Mural to the right hangs behind the counter at Cancun Grill. It was made special for Cancun Grill by local graphic designer and cartoonist Norman Johnson, who also does corporate imaging. Mr. Johnson has had cartoons in the local paper for many years. Courtesy Norman Johnson of NORMAN – A Graphics Studio; E-mail: normangraphics@suddenlink.net; Studio Phone: 432.697.1552

After work yesterday, we stopped by the Exhibit opening and reception at the Museum of the Southwest (see post below).  The reception, by the way, made us feel very “cultured”….  Kudos to the museum for the great photography on display, great food, and well-attended reception!  Afterwards we headed to “The Bar” to celebrate our friend Monica’s birthday on our favorite porch in town.  (Happy Birthday Monica!  32 is the new 22). 

In any case, we ran across this BEAUTIFUL photo today taken by Gary Rhodes at the MRT…. Our question is this: if we were out and about Downtown, how in the world did we miss this beautiful moon?  Great photo.   http://www.mywtxchatter.com/profiles/blogs/photo-years-biggest-brightest

Photo by Gary Rhodes, MRT Photographer

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midland, Texas, the wonderful organization which offices in our lovely Downtown Midland area on Texas Avenue, needs your help to support their Spring Fundraiser a week from today on Saturday, February 6^th, the annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake event!!!  There are 4 flights, and all 4 are only half full…..   BBBS is looking for people to volunteer to bowl in teams, and also donations for door prizes….  If you wish to donate or participate, please contact Kenye Kay Tranum at 770-5965. 

Bowl for Kids’ Sake

Saturday, February 6, 2010

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

AMF Midland Park Lanes

5320 West Loop 250 North

For more information, call: (432) 687-0195

or email: info@bbbsmidland.org

HAVE FUN!! HELP KIDS!!