On the Lake

We were gone and we came back to over 100 degree temperatures so getting out to take pictures hasn't been on the agenda much. We took this on one of the bridges a month or so ago as a boat started underneath.

Bar Limo

This old stretch limo is decorated with the logo of Dirty Bill's bar. I haven't been inside the tiny bar on Rio Grande but peering in the window it appears to be very old school and has a Ms. PacMan game.

Free to Follow Your Beat

Today some of the City Daily Photo Blogs raise awareness about the protest in Iran. I have chosen to celebrate the freedom women have here in the U.S. by showing Masumi Jones on drums, being all she can be as a person, a jazz drummer and a woman. Warning to Iran: women are not property and one day they will rise up to take their freedom.

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Second Street Shop Window

Snapped this photo the other day of the window of The Home Retreat store. It was sporting some colorful umbrellas (haven't needed those lately here!) and the AMLI across the street had a colorful banner. You can see reflections of me, of FFP and of a few strangers shopping or going to restaurants.

Progress on Austonian

A few days ago we posted a picture of the progress on the Austonian Condos as of June 8. This is a picture this morning around nine. Can you see progress? Also the W Hotel and condos are appearing above the chilled water plant now. This building will partially block our view of the Austonian when it rises to its (planned) thirty-odd stories. Watching downtown progress from our balcony is lots of fun.

Where Have all the Hogs Gone?

We were off in New York last week, but not before we saw the 'hogs' arrive in town for the Heart of Texas bike rally. These were lined up on East Sixth Street.

Tile Mural at El Sol Y La Luna

A popular Tex-Mex restaurant (El Sol y La Luna) moved its digs from South Congress to E. Sixth. This is part of the decoration.

Don't Lose Your Head Cycling

This motorcycle was parked on Third Street the other day near the smaller Royal Blue. Must be disconcerting to come up behind it in traffic.

Austin's Tallest Building

We were gone a couple of weeks. This is how The Austonian condos looked on the morning of June 8. It is already Austin's tallest building at 48 stories as it is in this picture. It will eventually be 56 stories. I will show a newer picture in the next few days and we will see how it progressed. Here is a picture showing the AMLI on Second building on the right as reference taken about a year ago.

Scholz Garden and Saengerrunde Hall

Scholtz Garden and the Saengerrunde Hall is a venerable spot for political, musical and UT gatherings. It claims to be the oldest business in Texas. Note the flags that fly over the music hall in the inset. The German flag below the U.S. one is a nod to the German immigrant who started the business. Many Germans settled in Central Texas.

Smoke and Tattoos

Young people in this town still smoke...and have tattoos...most more elaborate than this one. This is a detail from a photo shot at the Pride Festival.

Nancy Scott Sings for a Good Cause

On June 5, our friend Nancy Scott entertained with original songs at a benefit for Project Transitions. She was singing in Scholz Beer Garten with the weird mural backdrop there. One of her songs, "Lost in Austin," conveys nostalgia for things that were already gone a long time ago when she wrote the song.

Organic Sculpture

This very organic iron sculpture blends with the natural world of Butler Park near the Palmer Events Center.

A Bar Perhaps

Snapped this over east of IH35 where all the cool kids go to bars. Don't know if Uptown Sports is still open, but it was a bar a friend assured me, at one time. I don't know what you'd consider 'uptown' in our east downtown but the name has a certain ring.

Taste Select Wines...or beer

Taste Select Wines has a carefully curated selection of beer (in bottles). I really enjoyed this Adventinus a while back when I was just in the mood for beer with my food.

Modern on the East Side

This very modern house sits on the east side of IH35 among a variety of older cottages, older vintage historic homes, etc.

Skyscraper Alert

It was the first time I'd seen such a cone. I suppose window washers were at work on our finished building! I looked up and saw no one.

Sixth Street Bar Seeks Business

Seriously, the medical people think they will have a vaccine for H1N1 in October, but this Sixth Street bar is making light of it...although if you're truly worried you probably should stay out of crowded bars!

Eagle Landed

This Charles Umlauf sculpture of an eagle is in front of the reflective glass of the Omni and associated office building, reflecting the church across the way.

Stone Fence and Iron Gate

This attractive stone fence and iron gate is at a home east of IH35.

Rainbow Coalition

At the Austin Pride Festival on June 6, these young men brought the rainbow flag to life.

Painted House

This house with the interesting decoration is east of IH35. I don't know much about it.

Sculpture (and Crepe Myrtle)

This interesting sculpture and the crepe myrtle blooming beside it is in front of the Doughtery Arts Center on Barton Springs Road.

Treat Trailer

The complex of trailers on South First that has Torchy's Tacos (fried avocado taco, yum) includes this trailer which has sweet treats mostly including 'smores where you toast your marshmallows on a tabletop burner. That seems to be popular lately with the kids. (And the kids at heart.)

Opera Building

This building (on Barton Springs Road across from the Long Center and Palmer Events Center) houses the Heller Opera Center and the James Armstrong School of Music. (There is a Preece Recital Hall inside, as a matter of fact.) Besides housing administrative offices for Austin Lyric Opera and a rehearsal hall and recital hall, there are practice rooms for the music school.

Old Time GM Ride

This Cadillac was sitting outside a repair shop the other day on the east side of downtown. Lots has changed about cars, GM and a lot of other things since this car hit the showroom.

East Side Icon for Tamales

I understand that this used to be the place to get your traditional Christmas tamales. It might even have been a grocery. Now they apparently sell cure teas and things. It really looks like a classic old grocery store, though.

McPhail Florist and Greenhouse

This venerable Barton Springs Road purveyor of flowers and plants, McPhail Florist and Greenhouse, has/is a greenhouse and is one in more ways than one. The paint, the tree soaring from the courtyard and on the right there is a greenhouse. Interesting-looking neighborhood place.

Another Top

The building under construction in this picture (taken from the First Street Bridge) has a tree on top. The Four Seasons Residences have topped.

Boots

It's theme day and the City Daily Photo theme is feet. This is Texas so I give you some feet in cowboy boots. Now you might think this was at the old ranch house or at least at the Broken Spoke but these 'cowboys' were caught...in a wine bar!

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