Among Shiner’s absolute favorite watering holes, he finds the beer the coldest and the Longhorn coeds the cutest at Cuatro’s on 24th, near the UT Campus.

Cuatro’s
1004 West 24th Street
Austin, TX 78705
www.cuatrosaustin.com

Victor Guillermo Toro Vega Ramos Rodriguez Acosta known as Yomo Toro and “El Rey del Cuatro”  died on June 30th in New York from kidney failure.

Toro was hospitalized last week after being diagnosed with cancer according to DiarioLider.com

“He began to complain that he felt bad and after several tests, they told us that he had cancer,” Minerva Toro, Yomo Toro’s wife told PrimeraHora.com

He started his career in Puerto Rico in 1953 when he went on tour with “Los 4 Aces” band throughout the Caribbean.  Soon after, he decided to call New York his home and settle  in the Big Apple with his wife and daughter.

The legendary 78-year-old guitarist played alongside many legends such as Francisco Aguabella, Giovanni Hidalgo, tres guitarist Nelson Gonzalez, the late vocalist Hector Lavoes and pianist Eddie Palmieri.  He was part of the world-famous Fania All-Stars from the Fania Label and in 1994 became part of the Latin Legends with “El Judio Maravilloso” Larry Harlow and Aldaberto Santiago.

Cuatro was Toro’s instrument of choice.  A Cuatro is an old Puerto Rican 10-string guitar-shaped instrument descended from the Spanish Vilhuela.

According to WorldMusicCentral.org, Toro, “exposed this magnificent instrument [Cuatro] to the entire world and also made it fit in on different types of venues.”

Toros career advanced in 1969 when he recorded the very influential salsa album “Tribute to Arsenio” with Harlow. Soon after in 1972, he recorded “ Asalto Navideno” a salsa and traditional Christmas music CD with Willie Colon and Lavoes. The record was one of Fania’s best-selling of all time according to the National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP).

Toro appeared in over 150 albums and over 20 solo albums in various record labels such as Island, Fania,  Rounder and Green Linnet Records. He also played with ” Trio Los Pancho” in the early ’60s and recorded four albums with them, including one featuring Eydie Gormé.

The legend worked on several film tracks such as “Bananas” by director Woody Allen and “Crossover Dreams” with Ruben Blades.

He also crossed over to many other genres and recorded songs with Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon, Linda Rondstadt and David Byrne.

Not only was Toro a musical legend but he also did his fair share of  television. During the late 60s and early 70s he hosted a show  on Channel 41 in New York called the “Yomo Toro Show” which featured entertainment news and interviews of Latin celebrities.

“It’s a big loss for the arts, the music, especially for our people,” said Martin Vargas Morales, mayor of Guanica, the town in Puerto Rico where Toro was born. “We will maintain Yomo’s musical legacy alive in this town,” he added.

Un luthier no es otra cosa que una persona que construye, ajusta o repara instrumentos de cuerda frotada (por arcos) y pulseada (por dedos).

Entre éstos se puede incluir los violines, las violas, los violonchelos, violas da gamba, contrabajos, guitarras eléctricas, acústicas, electroacústicas, cuatros, láudes, archiláudes, tiorbas, mandolinas y clavecines.

Friday my sister and I went to visit my mother and some old family friends in New Braunfels. We used to live on base with this family in Japan, and we had not seen them in about fourteen years. Needless to say, a lot has changed! I enjoyed hanging with the family of five kids, playing with their awesome Labradoodle, and baking cupcakes.

Ok, we cheated. We used a box mix and pre-made icing and sprinkles, but they were so delicious!

Mmm chocolately goodness. But honestly, I do plan on baking from scratch this upcoming weekend for Easter.

Murphy! I had never seen a Labradoodle before, but I was obsessed with this dog. Dont you think he has a human face? So cute!

Saturday we were able to stop at the outlet mall, and I’m happy to announce that I finally got a few of my wish list items (photos to come later). On the return to Austin, Kipling and I had fun eating at Cuatro’s with friends and then having a very relaxing evening at home with Whitney. And today we finally got around to taking Whitney’s graduation portraits. Once we’ve decided on the “keepers”, I’ll share them with you!

Lunch at Cuatro's with friends. I'm not a soccer fan, but the queso was sure good!

After (again) knocking over her entire bowl of water, Kipling napped in the shade under our table. Here she is playing with Daddy.

-wonderland sam

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I’m obsessed.

 I’ve been taste testing bloody marys all over town and Austin knows how to do ‘em up right. Cuatros and Taverna make them semi-spicy with Zing Zang bloody mary mix.

The taste of the drink really depends on how the bartender mixes it up .But I think the key is less worcester, lots of spice, olives and celery.

Hands down best bloody mary in town goes to.. Trudy’s.

Trudy’s uses Tito’s bloody mary infused vodka and serves it up with a pepper, lime and THREE olives $5.50

Click here to check out other (cheap) bloody mary spots around town.

Tomorrow instead of ending spring break, keep it going with a bloody mary Sunday.

Delicious recipe after the jump:

Bloody Mary Recipe

2 oz Tito’s Bloody Mary Infused Vodka
½ Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
6-8 Dashes Worcestershire Sauce
4-6 Dashes Tabasco Sauce
2-3 Dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
3 Dashes Celery Salt
2 Dashes White Pepper
2 Dashes Garlic Powder
2 Dashes Onion Powder
Clamato Juice
Coarse salt for rimming

SOCO (South Congress)

Ego’s – Funky bar (with live music) in the basement of office building

Doc’s MotorWorks - Sit outside… great bar, with good food

Amy’s Ice Creams – Austin’s best ice cream…

Jo’s Coffee – Great place to sit outside to watch Austin go by…

Continental Club – My favorite live music venue – Great bands, cool vibe, quality/cool staff, and cold Lone Star beer

The Gallery (above the tattoo parlor next door to the Continental Club) – Has just reopened and I can’t wait to start spending time upstairs…

Botticelli’s – Chicago Italian food and music on their patio in the back… I’m now thinking about the Italian beef sandwich…

Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar – Great seafood and oyster bar with cold draft beer… life is good…

Guero’s Taco Bar – If you have ever read this space, my Tumblr space, or any of my tweets (Twitter), you know how much I love this place.  Great Austin vibe, the best people watching, quality/cool staff, unbelievable margaritas and cool beer, and delicious  food… They also have live music in the Oak Garden… Be prepared to wait…

Home Slice – My favorite pizza in Austin (pies or slice and cold beer) – I love sitting at the bar, eating a couple of slices and watching the talented staff make pizza… Be prepared to wait….

Allen Boots – Everyone needs a good pair of cowboy boots… you really do….

Vespaio/Enoteca – Two Restaurants -  Great Italian Food – call ahead…

Magnolia Cafe – 24/7 – Good Breakfast

Trophy’s – Another funky bar with live music

South First

RunTex – Best running store….

Threadgill’s (Between South 1st and Congress on Riverside) – Comfort food and live music

WHATABURGER – Closest WHATABURGER to the Convention Center (this link is for Merlin Mann)

Jovita’s – Fun Live Music Venue – If you are in town on a Thursday night, please do yourself a favor by going see/hear Cornell Hurd, you will have a great time…

Polvo’s – Great Mexican food

G&S Lounge – Cool (dive) drinking bar

West 5th Street (west of Congress)

Lucky Lounge – Live music, cool cat walk behind bar

Red Fez - Hookahs, cold beer, live music and/or DJ (and sometimes belly dancers)

Antone’s – Home of the blues – great live music venue

West 6th Street (East of Lamar)

Katz’s Deli - 24/7 – Good Breakfast

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos (6th St. and (on) Rio Grande) – Another one of my favorite places in Austin… Fun bar (full bar) and the best food…

Dirty Billy’s (6th St and (on) Rio Grande) – Fun new bar, cool juke box connected to the web can play just about anything…

La Zona Rosa (5th St and (on) Rio Grande, south of 5th) - Cool Live Music Venue

Opal Divine’s Free House on 6th – Good drinking bar, decks, and restaurant….

Mother Egan’s Irish Pub – Fun place

Hut’s – One of the best hamburger joints in Austin… Beer, wine, and shakes… Great rings…

West 6th and Lamar Blvd

Whole Foods World Headquarters – The mother of all Whole Foods store…

Book People – Cool, independent book store…

Waterloo Records and Video – Simply the best place to buy music…

Waterloo Ice House – Good food and cold beer…

Amy’s Ice Creams – Best ice cream in Austin…

Cheapo CDs (a little north of the intersection) - Best place to buy used CDs…

Screaming Goat Tacos y Cerveza – Great tacos and more… daily cold beer specials…

Austin Java (a little north of the intersection) – Good coffee and food…

Austin Land and Cattle Company (a little north of the intersection) - STEAK!!!

West 5th Street (at West 6th and Mopac)

Mean-Eyed Cat - Cool drinking bar – cold draft beer and live music

El Arroyo – Good food, cold beer, and margaritas

Barton Springs (west of Lamar)

Barton Springs Saloon - Funky bar… sit inside or out…

Green Mesquite BBQ – Fun place

Shady Grove – Sit outside, drink cold beer, and eat great food… they have the best queso/cheese fries….

Uncle Billy’s - Cold beer and good food – can you say pulled pork….

Chuy’s Tex-Mex – Pure Austin Fun!!!! Great food and drinks…

East Side

Hoover’s (Manor Rd) – Comfort/Home Cooking….

El Chili Cafe – Great food and drinks…

Vivo – Great food and drinks…

Odds and Ends

Cuatros – Great bar, with good food… sit inside or out… fun bar near UT…

Hole in the Wall – Great bar, with live music… on the Drag – across the street from UT…

Okay, that’s enough for now… I’ll update this post over the next few days (I think I left some fun places off the list)…

Please be safe, and have an insanely great time in Austin…

As always, comments are welcome….