The only surprises are happy surprises at a popular Midland eatery, and you can pop in there wearing your jacket that is a tent or a sleeping bag or a shelter.
WHERE TO EAT:
-Mex is the ultimate comfort food. Carumbas Spanish Inn, on Front Street in Midland, provides this comfort with a hearty helping of friendly service and a signature style. Carumbas’ huge menu contains any and all Tex-Mex specialties your heart can desire, deliciously arranged in a plethora of combination plates. The combo platters are playfully named after the staff and patrons that inspired them. You can eat the favorite combo of Trey, Bob, Caesar, Arlis, Doug, Bob, Jose, Martin, Beatrice, Carlos, Christy… and many more, plus numbered combo plates too. Any way you like it, they’ve got it. On my latest trip over to Carumbas, I enjoyed the Beatrice plate… and let me tell you… Beatrice has great taste. My plate was loaded up with a cheese chile relleno, a cheese enchilada, a tamale (smothered in red sauce), and a crispy taco, as well as beans, rice, and a scoop of fresh guacamole. Every bite was tasty, and gave me that comfort food fix I was looking for. For a real treat, try their apple tart for dessert. It’s served piping hot on a fajita plate with caramel sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yum, yum! Another plus at Carumbas… You need not worry about an empty drink glass when your mouth is feeling the heat from salsa: these smart folks provide you with a huge glass that rarely needs refilling. Now that’s comforting!
—By Bobbie Cupell, General Mgr., Burmass Oil Directory
WHO TO SEE:
Esquire has included him on its annual list of “The Best and the Brightest,” and Fast Company dubbed him an “intellectual rock star.” Richard Florida will be the guest speaker in Hobbs, N.M., for the Spring 2014 Jack Maddox Distinguished Lecture Series on Feb. 25, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. at Tydings Auditorium. The tickets for the lecture are free, but are required if one is to attend. Request tickets by email at tickets@usw.edu. The Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, Global Research Professor at New York University, and the founder of the Creative Class Group, which works closely with governments and companies worldwide, Richard Florida is perhaps the world’s leading urbanist, “as close to a household name as it is possible for an urban theorist to be in America,” according to The Economist. Florida is the author of several best sellers, including the award-winning The Rise of the Creative Class and is senior editor for The Atlantic. He appears regularly on CNN and other new broadcasts.
WHAT TO GET:
Everyone needs a jacket that converts into a sleeping bag, an emergency shelter, or a tent. The question is, where to find one? We’ve found yours at coolthings.com, which advertises the JakPak Jacket. A versatile garment for active, outdoor lifestyles, the JakPak can be transformed from an all-weather jacket into a personal sleeping system by unzipping and pulling out a few components. In jacket mode, the JakPak comes with three usable pockets (with matching storm flaps), an integrated hood with visor, and a three-season design (spring, summer and fall). It’s made from polyester body fabric. Find it for $249.99 at http://www.coolthings.com/jakpak-all-in-one-jacket-looks-practical/