Paseo del Rio

4 Texas cities rank among most romantic in U.S., but top spot is a shocker

When you think of the most romantic cities in the United States, there’s a clear pecking order: San Francisco, New York City, New Orleans and maybe somewhere like Charleston, South Carolina. But according to OpenTable, the most romantic city in the states is … San Antonio.

Based on a formula that took into account the percentage of restaurants rated “romantic” according to OpenTable reviews, percentage of tables seated for two, and percentage of people in the city who dined out for Valentine's Day last year, San Antonio led a pack of four Texas cities that made it into the first 11 spots.

Austin ranks No. 2 on the list of romantic cities, while Houston and Dallas come in at 10 and 11, respectively.

Austin picks up the No. 2 slot. Providence, Rhode Island; La Jolla, California; and Columbus, Ohio round out the top five. Because everyone knows that Columbus is the Buenos Aries of the Rust Belt.

Salt Lake City, long thought to rival Lisbon or Prague on an international level, is just outside the first five. Houston and Dallas come in at 10 and 11, respectively.

And what of San Francisco and New Orleans? Neither made the cut. Milwaukee slides in at No. 12, though, which will probably serve as a topic of conversation when they see No. 19 Indianapolis at the next wine and cheese party.

So where do Texas romantics go? Well, in San Antonio, they go to Ounce Steakhouse and Bella On The River. Austin’s best included the historic Driskill and Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano downtown.

For romance in Houston, OpenTable suggests Chez Nous and the near-religious Mark’s American Cuisine. The best places to make lovey eyes at your date in Dallas are the French Room, the iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, and Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck atop Reunion Tower.

So don’t worry about making it to the City of Light by February 14. The River Walk is only a few hours away.

The River Walk is to San Antonio what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.

RiverWalkSanAntonio.us

The River Walk is to San Antonio what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.

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Animal News

Wills Point, Texas man charged with cruelty for abandoning 18 animals

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Lucas Wayne Penrod, charged with animal cruelty

Another animal cruelty case has emerged from Van Zandt County, resulting in the arrest of a Wills Point man: Lucas Wayne Penrod was charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals, a 3rd degree felony.

It began on Friday, October 24, when the Wills Point Police Department performed a welfare check at a mobile home within the city limits. Officers became concerned when they heard multiple dogs barking along with a foul odor of animal waste.

On October 25, after obtaining a search warrant, Wills Point PD and the SPCA of Texas ACI Unit entered the residence and found multiple animals living in deplorable conditions.

The mobile home was filled with trash and animal feces. The team discovered a total of 8 cats, 2 guinea pigs, 4 adult dogs, and 4 puppies, cruelly confined to the unsanitary living conditions on the property.

Two dogs were confined to filthy crates with no access to water.
Three puppies were in a small bathroom covered in urine and feces; one of the puppies was deceased and decomposing.
The guinea pigs were found in a cage without access to food or water.

Most of the animals showed signs of long-term neglect and were in dire need of urgent medical intervention. The animals were seized by the SPCA of Texas and transported to the organization's Dallas location for veterinary care.

Dog in cage Wills Point Lucas Wayne Penrod Dog abandoned in Wills Point by Lucas Wayne Penrod.SPCA

On October 26, Lucas Wayne Penrod, the owner of the animals, contacted an SPCA of Texas Investigator regarding the animals. The Investigator determined that Penrod had unlawfully allegedly abandoned the animals, failing to provide them with proper care, resulting in the death of one of the puppies and the critical state of the surviving animals.

On October 28, the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit obtained an arrest warrant for Penrod, who was apprehended by Tyler Police Department and booked into the Smith County Jail with a $50K bond. Penrod was charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals, a 3rd degree felony.

On November 1, at a civil custody hearing at the Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 courthouse in Wills Point, Penrod relinquished custody of the 18 allegedly abandoned, cruelly treated animals to the SPCA.

"The squalid conditions these beautiful animals were living in were abhorrent--locked in spaces without food or water, in their own excrement," said SPCA of Texas ACI Unit Chief Investigator Courtney Burns, CAWA. "This is some of the worst mistreatment of domestic animals I've seen in my extensive career in animal cruelty investigations. In no small part, these pets owe their lives to the Wills Point Police Department. If it wasn’t for their quick thinking to involve us right away, I don't think the animals would have made it."

"This case perfectly illustrates the team effort that investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty cases in Texas is," Burns added. "We are extremely thankful to the Tyler Police Department for their efficient assistance in apprehending Penrod so that he can be brought to justice in the timeliest manner possible. And we are especially grateful to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and court system with whom we continue to partner to get justice for abused animals in their jurisdiction."