Socar Chatmon-Thomas

Another reason Austin is the best city in Texas is because of our next "Caring Corporation", Amy's Ice Cream.

Amy's Ice Cream is a locally owned company that makes incredible ice cream right here in Austin, TX. Amy's Ice Cream was founded by Amy Simmons in 1987 when she wrote a "hot check" to start the flag-ship store located at 3500 Guadalupe. Amy's Ice Cream's website will give you way more information about the company that I will, visit www.amysicecreams.com for more info.

Amy's is best known for are their " kookie" hats and great tasting ice cream. They have flavors like "White Lightning" (which has real grain alcohol in it!) and their Belgian Chocolate (with heath bar and pecan toppings) is to die for! AND that say's a lot coming from a person who is severely "LACTOSE INTOLERANT", but I always make an exception for Amy's Ice Cream. The flavors change constantly and there are non-dairy items on the menu too, but I'd suggest splurging on the original Mexican Vanilla, Belgian Chocolate or any other choice, they're awesome!

Anyway...what makes Amy's Ice Cream a "Caring Corporation" is because they support the Austin, TX community in a big way. Amy Simmons has a huge heart and supports most of our non-profits in the Austin area with donations, fundraisers and FREE ICE CREAM!!! The latest fundraiser on Dec 16th held at their Burnet location, benefitted the Austin's Children's Shelter. This is an example of a corporation putting their money where their mouth is! Amy's Ice Cream gives, gives, and then gives some more!!!

Thank you Amy Simmons for all that you give to the Austin, TX community and the ice cream ain't so bad either! Yum...Yum!!!

P.S. Even though it's almost freezing in Austin today almost 35 degrees, I'm headed to get my favorite Belgian Chocolate with heath bar and pecan toppings. It's never too cold for Amy's Ice Cream!

Your Austin Ambassador,

Socar Chatmon-Thomas

One of the reasons Austin is such an incredible place to live is because we are surrounded by entrepreneurs and corporations who actually care about human beings. Case and point RunTex Corporation, flagship location 422 W. Riverside Drive, CEO Paul Carrozza, www.RunTex.com . The company's mission is to make Austin, Tx the "fittest city in America"!

RunTex is a company that specializes in running shoes and apparel, that's what you see from the outside; but what you don't see is that the founder Paul Carozza is an activist and author who likes to run and wants everyone in the city to live a healthier life by exercising. I first discovered RunTex in the summer 0f 1999 when I decided to run a marathon. Until that point, I hadn't trained for a race since I was a little girl when I got my first pair of Adidas and challenged my father to a race.

Anyway, the thought of running a marathon had always been in my mind, but I had no idea how I'd achieve this goal. One day while driving to work, I heard a radio ad which asked, "Wanna run a marathon? Join Austinfit this Saturday, call RunTex for more information!" I was amazed my prayers had been answered. That following Saturday morning at 7am, I met Paul Carozza and thousands of other people at the Riverside RunTex which is located right next to Town Lake/Lady Bird Lake's hike and bike trails. The location's proximity to the hike and bike trails is perfect because we'd be forced to do our first training run that day or be embarrassed in front of thousands of Austinites.

After my training run, I signed up for the marathon's 6 month training program and completed my first marathon with the help of RunTex, AustinFit and Paul Carozza, but that not what makes RunTex such a caring corporation. What I discovered by training with AustinFit and buying my shoes thru RunTex is that for each pair of old shoes returned to RunTex, they will clean and donate these shoes to the homeless people of Austin, that's what makes RunTex a "Caring Corporation"! Thanks Paul for all that you do for our community!

Your Austin Ambassador!

Socar Chatmon-Thomas

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Location, Location, Location...this is the first rule in real estate, anything can be overcome if it's located in the right place and Austin scores triple digits in this category.

Austin is located in the middle of what is fondly called the Tech Triangle...but since everything is bigger in Texas, the sides of the triangle are VERY LONG. The sides of the triangle are, San Antonio (65 miles South of Austin, 1 hr drive time), Dallas (215 Miles North of Austin, 3 hr drive time) and Houston (150 miles Southwest of Austin, 2 hr drive time). These four cities have everything a person could ever want or need. The industries represented in the Austin Metro Area include everything from high-tech companies, oil and gas companies, state government and major universities.

What makes Austin unique excluding it's natural beauty and the live music scene, is the people. The profile of the average Austinite is a someone between 34-45, college educated, with 1.5 children working in the high-tech industry or state government. Most people here have moved from some place else, so we all decided to migrate to Austin. Most of us realized how awesome this city is and we moved here as quickly as we could!!! I invite you to visit our great city and learn to love it as much as I do!

You Austin Ambassador,

Socar Chatmon-Thomas

As most of you know, our normal fall foliage colors go from green to not so green to brown to GONE, but we have had some beautiful colors this year. I think it's due to the rains we received a few months ago. I've noticed tremendous yellows, reds, oranges and purples throughout the city ranging from far SW Austin/Shady Hollow to Central Austin/Hyde Park and all the way to Round Rock. This year's fall foliage will probably go on record in my mind as one of the most incredible showings I've ever witnessed. I've included a few pictures of the phenomenal colors...enjoy!

Your Austin Ambassador,

Socar Chatmon-Thomas

Hello,

First I'd like to give you some background info on my love affair with Austin, Tx. It began a long time ago when I was in high school in Houston. I attended the High School for Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) as most of us called it. I majored in Theatre Arts and as a Theatre Arts major we travelled to Ausitn, TX each year to visit one of Austin's Theatre legends, Dr. Ruth Denney. We visited her each year because she once taught at ‘PVA in the Theatre department and our main theatre was named for her. Each year we visited Dr. Denney, she'd give us a "behind the scenes" view of University of Texas' Theatre Arts department. We'd sit next to Bass Concert Hall, eat our sack lunches and dream of attending UT and living in Ausitn. Dr. Ruth Denney was an incredible professor and Thespian.

Soon after graduation I thought about moving to Austin, but I delayed that dream. After college and a short professional career as a Project Engineer in Houston, I got married, changed careers and moved to Austin. I must admit moving here after growing up in Houston was kinda scary, but I loved my husband and he did not want to move back to Houston.

Today, I am sooooo thankful that he didn't want to move back to Houston because I've had a 16 year-long love affair with this great city. In the coming days, weeks, and months...I will show you some of the reasons I think Austin is the best city in Texas. I live here, I work here, I give here and I raise my family here. Austin is a great little quirky haven for cool hip people, techies, musicians, students and just ordinary people like me...maybe I'm considered "cool & hip" too! And as my voicemail always says...it's an AWESOME DAY IN AUSTIN, TX!!!

Your Austin Ambassador!

Socar