ROCKWALL -One of the “hottest” spots in Rockwall nowadays – for the 30+ crowd in particular – appears to be the new lakeside Allure Restaurant Bar & Grill at Chandler’s Landing Marina on Karaoke Thursdays, as well as Friday & Saturday nights with live bands.

Nearly 100 people squeeze into Allure’s Bar & Grill every Thursday night -  often overflowing on to the patio – rocking out to some surprisingly excellent local country, rock & contemporary hit karaoke singers, watching sports on big-screen TVs, sipping drinks with friendly people and staff, plus eating food from the grill which regulars say is quite good.

Chandler’s Landing resident Jerl Welch is the karaoke DJ, spinning tunes virtually non-stop, while adding in some of the best harmonica playing in the DFW area. By day, he and his wife own Casa Jewelers in the Casa View Shopping Center. At night, they make quite a duo – singing, dancing and rocking the house together.

It’s often the same crowd and same number Friday and Saturday nights doing it all over again – this time listening and dancing to some top area bands, including the JD Cobb Band, Droo D’anna & Sound House.

The karaoke fun begins officially at 7 pm Thursdays and continues until Midnight, but if you want to get a table, be advised to arrive as early as 6:30 pm. After 8 pm, be prepared to practically sit on the laps of some of your friendly neighbors. That might actually be one reason why so many single men and women show up! Plenty of married couples are in the crowd, as well. If you want to sing, be sure to get on the list early! On Friday and Saturday nights the music normally begins at 8 pm and lasts until Midnight.

The Bar & Grill menu includes such favorites as the Big BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger, Nacho Cheeseburgers, Lakeside Chicken Sandwich, Turkey Club, a huge Catfish sandwich, four flavors of Chicken Wings, several salads, numerous appetizers, plus many dining room entrees – such as tenderloin steaks and fresh seafood. Bar & Grill prices range from $6-14.

Allure restaurant owners Pat & Linda Adams, plus their sons Jason and Taylor, are all on hand each night and day to supervise the action. They serve lunch seven days a week – beginning at 11 am – plus host a Happy Hour daily.

Since opening in July, the Adams say business has exceeded expectations in the bar and restaurant and they are working hard to make it even better.

During the World Series, for example, the Adams brought two huge projector screen TVs into the dining room so Ranger fans could watch the games from the spacious dining room. They also had an additional big-screen outside on the patio. On Thanksgiving and game days they host Dallas Cowboys game-watching parties featuring their big screens.

To provide even more room for special parties and wedding receptions, they’ve recently torn down the downstairs exercise center wall and are converting it into an overflow room for more parties. They had a beautiful new gazebo built outside the reception room for weddings during warm weather. There’s also a downstairs patio with a snack bar and white sand beach with umbrellas and lounge chairs.

Several local residents say Allure’s dining room offers a delicious array of sizzling steaks, fresh seafood and much more. Watch soon for a review of the Allure Restaurant dining room, which is open Tuesday – Sunday, from 5-10 pm, with a Sunday brunch from 10 am – 2 pm.

The lakeside view from the Bar & Grill, patio and dining room is spectacular and unmatched in the DFW area – especially at sunset – of Lake Ray Hubbard and the boats going in & out of the Chandler’s Landing Marina.

For reservations or info, call 972-771-3600 or visit www.allure-rockwall.com.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

ROCKWALL – Free burgers, soda, beer and a chili-cookoff will once again be featured at the Chandler’s Landing “National Night Out” crime prevention event at the sub-division’s main entrance, Oct. 4, from 6-8 pm.

Residents throughout the City of Rockwall are being asked by Rockwall Police to lock their doors, turn on the outside light and spend an evening outside with their neighbors and police to:

1. Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
2. Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts
3. Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
4. Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and are fighting back.

According to Kama Roux, Senior Chandler’s Landing Community Manager, the Rockwall Police Department and members of their Citizens on Patrol and Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association will be visiting participating neighborhoods in Rockwall to talk with residents about preventing crime.

Board member David Mallard said residents are encouraged to bring canned food items to the event so Rockwall police officers can collect them for a donation to Rockwall County Helping Hands.

For info, visit www.chandlerslanding.org.

ROCKWALL – After months of renovation, the long-awaited, lakeside Allure Restaurant at Chandler’s Landing Marina is now open to the public.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Featuring fine dining with spectacular sunset views of Lake Ray Hubbard in the spacious Main Dining Room, casual dining with live weekend entertainment in the Bar & Grill, several banquet & meeting rooms, plus even a wedding facility, Heath residents Pat and Linda Adams have gone to great lengths and much expense to make this new family business successful.

Sons Jason and Parker are helping to manage the restaurant and facilities, where the Adams were married 30 years ago. They’re also former Chandler’s Landing residents and they say the Club has been very much a part of their family’s life for years.

“This is a very special place for us so we have to do it right,” said Pat, who has owned Adams Office Furniture in Dallas at LBJ and Royal Ln. for over 25 years.

“Linda and I got married here 30 years ago. One of our sons also had his wedding reception here. We are just so excited!”

“The outpouring of support we’ve received has been just overwhelming. So many people have come in to wish us well. They’re extremely excited, too!”

The Adams have built a wedding gazebo and white sands beach on the lake next to the building, which was previously a private clubhouse reserved for Chandler’s Landing Yacht & Tennis Club members only.

Yacht & Tennis Club memberships can be purchased again now that the large family pool, tennis courts, boat docks and fitness room are being maintained regularly. They have been used extensively all summer long.

Featuring sizzling Angus steaks, fresh seafood, pasta, chicken dishes and more, plentiful entrees in the Main Dining Room are priced from $16-$49. Reservations are recommended.

Appetizers such as oysters on the half shell, crab cakes, seafood gumbo, stuffed mushrooms, salads and more range in price from $6 – $12.

Desserts include Bread Pudding, Chocolate Truffle Cake, Chocolate Bowls, Creme Brulee, Seasonal Berries, Southern Fried Pies for $6 -$7 each.

The main dining room is open:

• Tuesdays – Thursdays, 11 am -2 pm & 5-10 pm
• Fridays & Saturdays, 11 am – 10 pm
• Sunday brunch:  10 am -2 pm
• Sunday dinner:  5 -10 pm
• Monday:  Closed

In the Bar & Grill, as well as on the Patio, the menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, entrees and desserts ranging from $6 – $14. Reservations are also recommended. Hours are:

• Monday – Thursday:  11 am – 11 pm
• Fridays & Saturdays:  11 am – Midnight
• Sunday:  11 am – 10 pm

Besides “Karaoke Thursdays” in the Bar & Grill from 7 – 11 pm, live bands are scheduled every Friday and Saturday night beginning about 7:30 pm.

The swimming pool, poolside service and the snack bar are open:

• Monday – Saturday:  10 am – 9 pm
• Sunday:  Noon – 8 pm

According to Adams, business has been excellent since officially opening the Main Dining room in July. Thursday Karaoke attracts 100 or more people each week and the main dining room is nearly full each weekend evening.

For reservations and information, call 972-771-3600 or visit:  www.allure-rockwall.com.

The renovations are now in full-swing at Chandlers Landing Yacht & Tennis Club on Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall, after new owners took possession Feb. 10, who plan to reopen the lakeside Club as a public restaurant in May.

The Club was foreclosed upon and sold last September after previous owners David and Susan Gaskill were unable to keep the property because their bankruptcy protection proceedings were dismissed.

According to the new owners, Heath residents Pat and Linda Adams, they are very excited about their opportunity to reopen the Club because they are former residents of Chandlers Landing and the Club was so much a part of their family’s life for many years. They want to make it a fun place to be again.

“Linda and I got married here 30 years ago. One of our sons also had his wedding reception here,” said Pat. “We are just so excited!”

“The outpouring of support we’ve received has been  just overwhelming. So many people have come in to wish us well. They’re extremely excited, too!”

The Adams have owned and operated Adams Office Furniture in Dallas and Addison for over 25 years. They moved to Heath in 1999. Adams said now that their four sons are grown and have college degrees in business and hospitality, the family has talked for some time about opening a restaurant together.

“When I first told Linda about the opportunity to take over the club, she said, ‘We can’t do that!’”

“But after making a ‘sizable investment’ we have and now have lots of plans,” he said.

Those plans include refurbishing the entire building; improving the landscaping and grounds; ensuring the pool, tennis courts and exercise room are well-maintained; plus bringing back weddings and introducing an upscale restaurant open to the public for lunch, dinner and a Sunday brunch.

“The construction of the building is unbelievable,” said Adams. “It was built 45 years ago but is almost timeless. There’s not a crack in the floor.”

He said they have ripped out much of the old carpeting and are replacing it primarily with wooden floors.

“We’ve also removed the carpeting from the main dining room and were surprised to see how well-preserved the natural wood floor is underneath.”

Adams said he has hired executive chef Charles Armstrong to oversee the menu of the restaurant and grill, which will serve a variety of fresh seafood, steaks, chicken and daily specials, including a kids menu and less expensive fare affordable for everyone.

Armstrong worked in New Orleans for seven years at several upscale restaurants owned by Al Copeland and went to chef’s school there before Hurricane Katrina caused his family to relocate to the Rockwall-Rowlett area. He said he’s worked at several local restaurants perfecting his skills since then.

Adams said that he was so impressed with Armstrong’s cooking at those restaurants that he hired him to run their kitchen at Chandlers Landing.

The family business will start hiring soon, said Adams. Chef Armstrong plans to hire 14 people for the morning and night shifts.

For more information, call 972-771-3600. A new website is also being produced.

Special Memorial Day services will be held today at two locations in Rockwall for the community to attend.

Beginning at 10 am, Rest Haven Memorial Park and Funeral Home will host its 35th annual Memorial Day program, featuring a traditional presentation of the colors, a guest speaker and music by a 32-voice community choir.

Guest speaker will be retired Chaplain and Colonel Lyle R. Metzler, who received numerous awards during his 33-year U.S. Army career, including  the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals for his heroic actions.

Special music will be provided by the 32-voice “55+ Community Chorus,” organized specifically for Rest Haven’s program by Russ Porter and the Rockwall School of Music.

Leading the presentation of the flag will be the Civil Air Patrol – Lakeshore Composite Squadron, composed of local high school students with interest in serving the nation. American Legion Post #11 and the Tri-County Veterans Honor Guard will also participate. 

 

Flags will be available for families of veterans to place in the cemetery in honor of their loved ones.  Refreshments will be served following the ceremony. 

 

Rest Haven is located at 2500 State Hwy. 66 East, Rockwall, TX. For more information, call 972-771-8641.

 

The 34th annual Chandler’s Landing Yacht and Tennis Club program begins at Noon, featuring a traditional presentation of the colors, a fly-over by U.S. Navy jets, 21-gun salute, singing of the National Anthem, a laying of the colors on a wreath on Lake Ray Hubbard and taps.

 

U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall and Rockwall Mayor Bill Cecil, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot, are scheduled to speak.

 

Call 972-771-2051 for information.