BENNIGAN'S COMES BACK TO NORTH TEXAS

My new friends Avery Redmond and Shawnnice Davis and dinner for five!

Bennigans Renewed

by Libby

Meet our wonderful new friends at Bennigan's in Plano

Before the grand opening of the reintroduction of Bennigans into our area (Central Expressway between Spring Creek and Park in Plano, TX), my dad and I were invited to their soft opening.  
A soft opening is an opening that takes place just before a restaurant opens for normal business. They invite friends and family to eat for free! Its an important introductory stage when the restaurant can fix the last of its kinks and determine how it will work with the customers.
Dad and I were joined by our friend J.B. Blocker and new friends Mike and Chrystal. Every guest was given a different menu, each of which had different meals for the customer to choose from. 
        We were welcomed by managers Liz Tavison and Sarah Kissell. They explained that we should all try something different in order to give their chefs-in-training a wide variety of meals to cook.
It’s funny, but even with a full house, you could hear everyone at your table. J.B. said it was because of the high ceilings. And you can see all the T.V’s from just about everywhere. That night, several Olympic events and the Rangers were showing.
We shared appetizers and each ordered a different entrée. Our appetizers were: Pub Bites, Monte Cristo’s, and the Mix & Match Appetizer Trio. 

The Monte Cristo!

        I had the Stacked Chicken and Shrimp which was delicious! It was perfectly cooked chicken which was very tender and juicy, covered with cheese, and with baby shrimp on the rims of the plate. My dad ordered the Monte Cristo dinner and we both had enough for leftovers the next day.

Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Salad

       JB got the Baby Back Ribs, which he shared with everyone. They were delicious! The other entrées included the Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Salad, and the BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger.

Delicious Brownie Bottom Pie!

        We barely had room for desert but somehow found room for the Brownie Bottom Pie, which I must admit, was my favorite part of the meal. It’s a big, warm brownie with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. To top it off, it was drizzled with chocolate syrup. The ice cream cooled the fresh brownie, and it all just seemed to melt in your mouth. 

The servers there are very social, so it’s not that awkward “may-I-take-your-order” encounter and then they leave, coming back only to refill your drinks. They were energetic and friendly, constantly having an “I’m really happy to be here” look on their faces.

The significance of this opening is that many other restaurants have been closing, making this a highlight—a place people will be attracted to not only because of its highly rated food, but also because it’s new, or in this case, renewed! 
      They have also changed the layout of the building, which I noticed is much larger on the inside than you would have guessed just seeing the outside. They have not only changed the arrangement to make it more open, but they have also changed some of the items on the menu with new, even better
choices than before. 
     Their signature Monte Cristo seemed better than ever, and we all agreed that the ribs were among the best we had ever had...in fact, of all of the items served at our table, nothing disappointed!

  Their web site proclaims “Welcome to Bennigan’s, a legendary, chef-driven neighborhood pub and the perfect place to kick back and experience the genuine spirit of Irish Hospitality,” and I totally agree. 
      To paraphrase Mark Twain, “Rumors of their demise have been greatly exaggerated.”
      
      Bennigan’s is dedicated to providing their guests with genuine, high-spirited service. And they do! with great waiters and waitresses, and the food! I highly recommend Bennigan’s! Whether it’s for a nice family dinner, or if you want a night out with some friends, or to take a special someone out on a father and daughter night, Bennigans is a great place to go! 
Libby


Libby Cooper is a 12 year old with a flair for words.


- J.B. Blocker is a media consultant based in Collin County in North Texas. Advertise with J.B. by calling 469-334-9962. Email: jbnorthtexas@gmail.com

David Evans for 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Justice

Former Dallas County District Judge David Evans has announced his candidacy for the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Along with his Law Degree from SMU School of Law, Judge Evans is a student of the Bible and attended the highly regarded Dallas Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Ancient Greek and Hebrew.
He has been a devoted student throughout his life and finds his legal strength in his attention to details, his depth of study in the law, and his internal drive to read and analyze. Now with the benefit of hand held electronics, the opportunity to read and research has only served to make his passion for research that more readily available.
These traits will serve him well in a positions that requires critical analysis of court records and proceedings that are presented to this bench.

Share this with your conscientious friends and personal contacts.


- J.B. Blocker is a media consultant based in Collin County in North Texas. Advertise with J.B. by calling 469-334-9962. Email: jbnorthtexas@gmail.com or jbblocker@hotmail.com.

Collin County is an Orphan

Sen. Bob Deuell, Tincy, Ray Huffines

Angela Tucker, Fred Moses, Tincy

Tincy with Sen. Jeb Hensarling

Rep. Cindy Burkett with Tincy

Tincy with Christi Craddick

Collin County is an Orphan

By J.B. Blocker

Due to the new redistricting lines, Collin County is now part of the new District 12 for representation on the State Board of Education! This newly aligned district is now partly Northern Dallas County and all of Collin County.

This is actually good news! It means that this highly conservative Christian base has the opportunity to be represented by ‘Tincy’ Miller, the most highly respected and devoted advocate in Texas SBOE history.

Mrs. Miller is far and away the most knowledgeable and experienced of all candidates’ state wide. Her dedication to Texas public schools spans over 20 years!

A Football Analogy

This opportunity for representation could be compared to the Denver Broncos’ acquisition of Payton Manning for quarterback. Even though Manning is nearing the end of his career, his leadership, track record, knowledge of the game, and determination all added up to an easy decision for G.M. and Hall of Fame quarterback for Denver, John Elway.

Not only are Manning and Miller highly respected in their fields, they are no nonsense leaders who find a way to get the most from their teammates. They know the rules better than anyone else and literally changed the face of their organizations. They cannot be intimidated, their integrity cannot be questioned, and they have lived their careers without letting egos get in the way of the performance of their duties.

Terri Green receives more Powerhouse Endorsements

Conservative State House Member Endorses Terri Green for Judge

Today State Representative Jodie Laubenberg (R-Parker) Dist. 89, joined the chorus of other Collin County elected officials in announcing her endorsement of Terri Green for 380th District Judge in this month’s Republican runoff election.  Laubenberg said she decided to make a public endorsement because of Green’s extensive experience in family and civil law.

"One of our District Judge's greatest responsibilities is to provide justice and protection for abused children and victims of family violence,” said Laubenberg. “We need a conservative Judge with experience to keep Collin County safe and to uphold our Constitution with integrity. Terri Green will bring integrity and a solid conservative philosophy to the 380th District Court.”

Meet the Lone Star Reporter

                        

Romancing the Bean, A Series of Short Stories   by J.B. Blocker

Cowboy Coffee

Sunray, Texas 'just a ways from Dumas'

  By the time I met Tom Robinette, he was walking with a cane to help him bear the years he carried on those stooped shoulders.  I didn’t know it then, but now I know that years are like gravity.                     

  His short cropped balding head was usually covered by a very worn and venerable cowboy hat. All scrunched up and sweat stained, that hat was usually tilted to one side. Tom would scratch the side of his forehead when he was contemplating serious questions. I caused him to scratch a lot.

  I clearly remember those hands. His fingers were bent and knotted. His skin had the look of fragile leather as they opened and closed in an almost robotic dance I have witnessed often.

  Tom ran the old pool hall in Sunray, the tiny West Texas town were I spent my teenage years. I watched those hands many times as they caressed his pool cue with chalk and then slowly plant those fingers on the pool table to set his bridge. They looked like the roots of an old vine growing out of the green felt of the table and into his long shirt sleeves that were always buttoned.               

  I don’t know why they call it West Texas. We’re the very northern part of the state.  It’s the Panhandle! It should be called North Texas, but that name was taken by the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area. Still, if you drive about 400 miles north and west of Dallas you’re near my home town and you are still in Texas!

  If you keep on driving north past Amarillo, Dumas, and Stratford you are in the Oklahoma Panhandle and another 40 miles will get you in to Kansas. Now, that’s really North Texas! From there, only a barbed wire fence separates us from Canada ‘so they say’.