"Rain in Hog Heaven"

Friday, July 25, 2008, 10:00 am

Cindy's Gone Hog Wild is the biker restaurant/icehouse run by Scott's cousin Cindy and her husband Mike. We spent Thursday with them there and at their home just a few miles away in Balstrop, TX, south of Austin. Mike is a total entrepreneur, and he has carved out this successful venture despite the difficulties of running a restaurant and the bar's relative remote location.

The place has a killer burger, cold beer, and an everybody's welcome atmosphere. They've become the number two biker destination in Austin (or is that all of Texas?). It's entirely open air, ventilated by fans and misters, and consists of wood, sheet metal, cedar picnic tables, and garage door walls. They have free live music on the weekends (never a cover) on the back porch and stage that Mike added last year. Mike pretty much built the entire place by hand - after buying the core of the building he had to cut it in half in order to move it to their land (in another county for better liquor laws). The add-ons he's done himself, many of the support posts came from clearing the property where he built his home.

It's a total dive (a good thing), and a blast to hang around. We got there early afternoon, just beating the remnants of hurricane Dolly. She huffed and she puffed and she blowed all afternoon, but she couldn't blow the Hog Wild down, not by the hairs of its chinny chin chin. By early evening it was all over, and we headed to Cindy and Mike's for dinner. Their home and pool are beautiful, more work done primarily by Mike. The pool is as impressive as Chuck and Rose Marie's, with rocks and fountains everywhere, flashing lights, and a hot tub spill-over. After dinner, the adults went back to the Hog Wild while Lee, Kristen, and Cindy and Mike's kids Maddison, Preston, and Zach stayed home for a movie night.

It was poker night at the Hog Wild, and I was itching to make up for my missed tourney in Vegas. Scott and Cindy also played. Nighttime at the Hog Wild was all Cindy. Nearly everyone in the bar knew her and was hitting on her. Cindy, clearly a people person, was totally in her element. She sashayed around, flirting and cavorting and trash-talking with the crowd like she owned the joint (oh, wait...). Before poker started, Scott and Kathy got to show off their surprise - Scott had built and painted the two custom cornhole boards for the Hog Wild, and Kathy had created the set of 8 corn beanbags to use with them. Cornhole is the new up-and-coming horseshoe killer - a beanbag toss to a sloped board with a target hole near the top. It is becoming a big deal; has as official association, rules, website, and a growing following. Mike and Cindy knew the cornholers were coming, and they were eager to christen the boards into Hog Wild lore. Mike has visions of keeping Scott employed by making and selling boards to Hog Wild customers, but Scott's going to have to move his cornhole if he wants to build enough to turn a real profit. The boards were a quick hit, and a permanent cornhole pit is sure to be coming soon to the Hog Wild.

My sad news of the evening was I drummed out of poker quickly - I only lasted an hour. I got moved to a new table and was immediately the short stack there. I went all-in when I top two-paired the flop, but I got busted by a set on the turn card. Scott, however, surprised everyone (including himself) by making the final table. He knew the poker basics but was not familiar with Texas Hold'em or no-limit tournament play. But all you need is a chip and a chair, and he was getting the cards. He didn't make the money, but his final table showing is something to be proud of. It more than made up for my weak play.

We stayed the night with Mike and Cindy, who opened their house to us, Dave and Maggie Lee style. They're a great couple with a great family - stop by the Hog Wild if you are ever passing through.

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