With counter-ordering by day and full service at night, Mama Fu’s is a flex-casual restaurant in its format.  Fu’s consistently engages its customers through contests, social media, customer rewards and loyalty programs, and more. They have an Instagram account, a new Viddy account, and utilize Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. They have great promotions, like this month when moms ate for free from May 13-16. They give back to the community with donation nights, like their recent fundraising night for Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, and they recently were awarded a certificate for being the Campus Partner of the Year by Covington Middle School. 

One of their cutest promotions is “Kids Fortunes,” where pint-sized customers get to write their own fortunes and have them published in Mama Fu’s cookies and win a prize. Some of the more entertaining ones they’ve posted on Instagram include, “On Monday you will be trapped in a cage,”  “Do not listen to this fortune,” and “He who walks on bridges is just afraid of swimming.”

Of course, the food has to back up their culture to win and keep customers, and they definitely excel in this area. Two of the members of their new “Black Market” Menu – a menu of seasonal and gradually changing menu items that aren’t part of their regular menu, including Pho, Massaman Curry, and Bangkok Curry – are award winners. Their Egg Drop Soup won an internal contest, the Mama Fu’s 2011 Culinary Challenge, and the Banh mi sandwich won the 2012 MenuMasters award.

With a gluten free menu, lots of vegetarian options, great prices, and a great kids menu, on top of everything else that makes them wonderful, Mama Fu’s is a must-try restaurant for those living from Village at Western Oaks to Avery Ranch (close to their Lakeline location.) Their recent growth from five stores in 2008 to 20 locations by the end of 2012 – and a projected 35 franchise deals by the end of 2013 – show just how delicious, fun, and popular this model of restaurant is. For anyone involved in an Austin home search, who may want a home in Village at Western Oaks, the Austin Realtors at Regent Property Group would love to meet interested clients for lunch at Mama Fu’s.

THE BELOW MARKET UPDATE IS CURRENT AS OF THE ABOVE DATE OF THIS BLOG POST.

Active: There is currently 0 home for sale in Western Oaks with a median list price of $0 per square foot ($0) and averaging 0 active days on the market. The average home for sale has 0 bedrooms, 0 bathrooms, and 0 square feet. Prices range from $999.00 per square foot up to $0.00 per square foot or $100,000,000 up to $0…

Pending: There is currently 0 home pending sale in Western Oaks with a median list price of $0 per square foot ($0) and averaging 0 active days on the market. The average home pending sale has 0 bedrooms, 0 bathrooms, and 0 square feet.

Sold: There is insufficient data to perform these calculations

Withdrawn: There have been 25 homes withdrawn in the last 6 months inAustin TX with a median list price of $119 per square foot ($254,900) and averaging 397 active days on the market. The average home withdrawn from the market has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2236 square feet.

Expired: There have been 8 homes that have expired from the market in the last 6 months in Western Oaks with a median list price of $114 per square foot ($248,500) and averaging 398 active days on the market. The average home that expired from the market has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2100 square feet.

In addition to its love for The King, Chuy’s is well known for its charitable contributions, including its annual Children Giving to Children Parade to benefit Blue Santa. On Saturday, May 5, Chuy’s will host its other major charity fundraiser, The Hot to Trot 5K and Kid K at its Arbor Trails location in Southwest Austin. Residents of Village at Western Oaks can run over in the morning and hop on the trail with other Austinites looking to have a good time and raise money for Special Olympics Texas.

For anyone looking to mix chip-timing with chips and salsa on Cinco de Mayo weekend, this run is the place to be. Now in its 29^th year, the race is separated into the Kid K, 5K Fun Run/Walk, and the 5K Timed/Competitive and Wheelchair races. Entry fees range from $11 to $25; registering by May 1 will give entrants a small discount, as does registering as a group. All registered runners will be entered to win door prizes from great Austin vendors, all kids 12 and under will receive a medal upon completion, and those competing in the Time and Wheelchair races will be working to win the coveted Chuy’s Fish Trophy.

Free daycare and entertainment before and after the event make this a great outing for the whole family. Looking for a great Austin home? A home in the Village at Western Oaks subdivision may be a perfect match, and the Austin real estate agents at Regent Property Group can help with the Austin home search.

The neighborhood sale will take place between 8am and noon on the 21^st, with everyone in the community encouraged to set up sales at their own homes. The event will be publicized with strategically placed signs and an ad in the Statesman.

For some, hosting a garage sale may seem daunting so here are a couple of tips to make it easier:

- Dust off those latent customer service skills: people should be greeted with a smile and treated well. No one likes to buy from a grouchy salesperson.

- Be sure to get plenty of change the night before, especially dollar bills and quarters. And, fanny packs aren’t just for hipsters these days: keeping all money close and not in a cash box is a much safer option.

- Sellers should determine their motivations before starting the sale. If the point is to make money, then negotiations should be tighter. If the point is to get rid of stuff, sellers should be a little more flexible in pricing. Sellers also should keep their customers in mind; many garage sale goers are from lower income households and may really need that price break.

- If some items seem like collectibles or may be intriguing to niche markets, sellers should take the time to research on EBay or Craigslist; selling online may generate a greater profit.

- For those who happen to be procrastinators, one easy way to save time is not to price each item. Instead, sellers can go into the sale with an idea of what they want to get (especially for the big items), and negotiate with customers; most garage sale enthusiasts are going to haggle anyway! Be sure to start high, though, as it’s easier to go down on the price and nearly impossible to go back up.

- After the sale is said and done, sellers can pack up their leftovers to donate to local organizations like Goodwill and Salvation Army or recycle them at the Associa Green Home Grown & Recycling Round Up Event at Dick Nichols Park on April 24^th.

Having a community that participates in great events together can mean the difference between a good home and a great home. For anyone looking for a great home in the Villages at Western Oaks subdivision, the Austin real estate agents at Regent Property Group can help.

The Arbor Trails store, which will employ 150 to 200 people, will be approximately 35,000 square feet and will have an in-store wine and beer bar, offer free electric vehicle charging stations, and feature chef-prepared foods made in-house. Naturally, its shelves will stock the best in fresh, sustainable foods, and, according to recent press releases, will never carry any “pink slime” products. The new store will uphold the same quality of products, service, and contributions to community as the rest of the stores in the Whole Foods family.

Of course, there will be groundbreaking ceremonies and activities surrounding the opening so families in the Village at Western Oaks neighborhood and surrounding subdivisions, such as Ridge at Lantana, Legend Oaks, and Circle C, can plan to enjoy the fun and fresh food that the store will bring. For anyone looking for a new home in one of these subdivisions, the Austin real estate agents at Regent Property Group can help.

THE BELOW MARKET UPDATE IS CURRENT AS OF THE ABOVE DATE OF THIS BLOG POST.

Active: There is currently 0 home for sale in Western Oaks with a median list price of $0 per square foot ($0) and averaging 0 active days on the market. The average home for sale has 0 bedrooms, 0 bathrooms, and 0 square feet. Prices range from $999.00 per square foot up to $0.00 per square foot or $100,000,000 up to $0…

Pending: There is currently 0 home pending sale in Western Oaks with a median list price of $0 per square foot ($0) and averaging 0 active days on the market. The average home pending sale has 0 bedrooms, 0 bathrooms, and 0 square feet.

Sold: There is insufficient data to perform these calculations

Withdrawn: There have been 25 homes withdrawn in the last 6 months inAustin TX with a median list price of $119 per square foot ($254,900) and averaging 367 active days on the market. The average home withdrawn from the market has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2236 square feet.

Expired: There have been 8 homes that have expired from the market in the last 6 months in Western Oaks with a median list price of $114 per square foot ($248,500) and averaging 368 active days on the market. The average home that expired from the market has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2100 square feet.

Participants in the CAC help shape major decisions for the school, bridging the gaps between what’s right for the school, the students, and the community. State law requires the formation of this group at each school, which is a committee of parents, students, business and community representatives, teachers, the principal, and other campus staff. Functions of the CAC include “providing review and comment on educational programs, campus performance, the Campus Improvement Plan, staff development plans, and campus budget.  The mission of CACs is to promote excellence in education for all students through broad-based representation.”

AHS currently has openings for parent members and a business member (not an AISD employee), and participation requires a two-year commitment. Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month from 5:30-7:00pm in the AHS Library, with the first meeting of the next term on May 7. Anyone interested in applying for a position should contact Kim Nugent-Anderson, AHS CAC Co-Chair at kna@austin.rr.com; applications are due to Renee Fairchild in Caldaza’s office by March 30, after which the Principal and Officers will review applications and recommend applicants to the CAC body for approval.

Austinites have plenty of options for homes if their children attend Austin High (or plan to), but making the decision to buy a home in the Villages at Western Oaks subdivision or other nearby Southwest Austin neighborhoods can be as important as the decisions one would make serving on the CAC. For extra help making that decision, call on the Austin realtors at Regent Property Group.

THE BELOW MARKET UPDATE IS CURRENT AS OF THE ABOVE DATE OF THIS BLOG POST.

Active: There is currently 0 home for sale in Western Oaks with a median list price of $0 per square foot ($0) and averaging 0 active days on the market. The average home for sale has 0 bedrooms, 0 bathrooms, and 0 square feet. Prices range from $999.00 per square foot up to $0.00 per square foot or $100,000,000 up to $0…

Pending: There is currently 0 home pending sale in Western Oaks with a median list price of $0 per square foot ($0) and averaging 0 active days on the market. The average home pending sale has 0 bedrooms, 0 bathrooms, and 0 square feet.

Sold: There is insufficient data to perform these calculations

Withdrawn: There have been 25 homes withdrawn in the last 6 months inAustin TX with a median list price of $119 per square foot ($254,900) and averaging 336 active days on the market. The average home withdrawn from the market has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2236 square feet.

Expired: There have been 8 homes that have expired from the market in the last 6 months in Western Oaks with a median list price of $114 per square foot ($248,500) and averaging 337 active days on the market. The average home that expired from the market has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2100 square feet.

A very special treat for this year’s festival combines the natural with the architectural, as Robert J. Lang, the world’s leading master of origami, brings his art to Southwest  Austin. At noon on Saturday he will perform an origami folding demonstration in the auditorium, as well as conduct a “Bringing Origami to Life” workshop from 3-5pm in the library. The workshop will explore the development of 20^th century origami techniques, specifically the wet folding method. This summer, the Center will feature an exhibit of Lang’s giant origami works.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center almost always has something wonderful and unique on its calendar, whether one is looking for fun family activities or a place for solitary meditation. For anyone looking for a home that is both near the Center and that has the same natural aesthetic and sensibilities, the Village at Western Oaks subdivision is the perfect place to find a home. The agents at Regent Property Group know the area well and can help with that search.

Saturday February 18, from 8:30am to 12:30pm, Financial Aid Saturdays will be making a stop at Austin High School, making it convenient for students who live in the Village at Western Oaks subdivision and already attend the school.  On February 25, they will be at Akins High, near the Olympic Heights subdivision, and at Lake Travis High on March 24. In addition, Reagan High School and Univision will be hosting a Financial Aid Town Hall on February 19. For more information about any of the events, prospective participants can call the Texas Financial Aid Information Center at 1-888-311-8881. They can also register for the events (registration is required) at www.austinchamber-collegereadynow.org.

According to the Austin Chamber of Commerce, “the latest research shows that filing for financial aid improves student opportunities to enroll and complete college.” The first step to any college career is a good education, along with a positive environment for time spent outside of school. For any family looking for a good school and a good home near that school, Village at Western Oaks is a great place to look, and Regent Property Group can help with that search.