Home with a View, the Home

Yesterday's sunset was shot from this lovely home.

Home with a View

Some friends of ours are selling a home with magnificent views of Lake Austin. Especially at sunset. Thanks to Jackie for this picture.

Can you buy Well-Being?

This sign on South First promises much more than ladies' intimate apparel. Well-being? Good deal if you can buy it. I didn't inquire.

West Austin Communications

If you walk from our condo to Tenth and West Lynn, you will notice the rise in elevation. Which is why this communications tower was placed there I'm sure. Further out west as the Hill Country rises more there are other sleek towers streaking skyward but this one which has been there for many decades sits on a street in an old neighborhood. I couldn't find anything specifically about it.

Tree!

Plastic flamingos can hardly compete with the magnificent trunk of this tree in a yard in Clarksville.

Crepe Myrtles on the Bloom

For weeks now the crepe myrtles around town have taken turns blooming profusely (which they do a few times a year it seems, responding to weather they like). These are in a neighborhood in northwest Austin where we have a house my dad lives in.

Save the Earth a Quart at a Time

This car repair shop on South Congress wants to keep that used crankcase oil out of our local waterways. With all the outrage over spilled crude we should listen to them.

Capitol Dome Floor

Showed you the inside of the Capitol Dome a while back looking up. This is what the floor looks like from the walkway above.

One Congress Plaza From Above

Took this from the 56th floor of the Austonian. One Congress Plaza looks very odd from here, tall and thin, because it stretches out away from us. See here.

Pilates with a View

If you were moving into the Austonian (which some folks are doing this month I understand) you could do pilates while looking out over east Austin from the 56th Floor. Took this during the Women's Symphony League event last month.

Driving Those Boots

After showing their boots I thought it only fair to show you the gals themselves. Floramay Holliday (l.) and Shelley King rock out. They are part of Sis Deville. Playing here at Threadgill's to benefit the Breast Cancer Resource Center.

Photographer

This is Greg Sells. And, yes, that's an old school film camera around his neck. He is a fixture at Austin live music events, taking his photos. He especially follows female singer/songwriters. Local film maker Jenn Garrison made a short documentary about him.

More Boots

These are Floramay Holliday's boots (she's in Sis Deville) tapping out a rhythm.

Boots Scooting Lovelies

We were recently privileged to hear the band Sis Deville (I keep wanting to call them Sisterville and that is part of the point, I guess). Members of the band are Floramay Holliday, Carolyn Wonderland, Ann Marie Harrop, Angela Webster, and Shelley King. And these are Shelley King's boots.

Paint Test

How do you like the purple? The pink? The blue? At least it's getting painted. House under renovation. South Austin.

Coffee Trailer

A while back we were in East Austin seeking some unusual art adventures. We parked near this trailer. It took me a moment, given the cactus font, to realize this was a coffee trailer...called "Trailer Perk."

Weird, indeed

We stopped this while walking in South Austin last month. Besides putting bumper strips on the side of the colorful pickup, I found several thinks funny about this collection. For example, the sticker falling off is one of those 'Live Strong' Lance Armstrong ones.

Where the Chrome Hits the Road

The Republic of Texas Bike Rally hit the city this weekend. Friday night we walked down Congress which had become a bikes only haven. This beauty was one of hundreds parked or driving up and down the Avenue.

Funny in Another Language

I almost used this one for the funny signs theme day. Inside the Crepe Cafe on Second are a bunch of French signs. The 'Defense de Fumer et De Cracher' caught my eye. No Smoking or Spitting!

South Austin Convenience

Shot this in South Austin last month. I was amused at the offerings of this 'convenience' store: Hookah Lounge, Pipes, Henna Tattoos and Art. FFP looked up why they called it '4:20 Spot.' Wikipedia has this to say. Not so in touch with the sub-culture after all these years. Cannabis is illegal in this state, by the way. Those paintings? They might cross the line, too!

Post No Bills

The Cheapo Discs store has some cool murals but the towing warning has collected some stickers and graffiti, too.

New Ink

A young friend of ours has just added some flower tats to go with her birds in flight. Cheerful stuff.

Sara Hickman In Fine Form

We went to a benefit concert for the Breast Cancer Resource Center Sunday afternoon at Threadgill's Outdoor Pavilion. Here you see our friend Sara Hickman and her bass player tearing into a song. She's one of the livelier people around -- she always brings the energy level up no matter where she is.

More Pride

These lady motorcyclists were really enjoying themselves in the Pride Parade Saturday night.

Pride

It is Pride weekend in Austin. FFP and I stood on Cesar Chavez for the parade from Long Center to Fourth Street. We knew several of the Grand Marshalls and FFP got this picture of one of them, Libby Sikora, waving to the crowd. Libby is a tireless advocate of LGBT young people through Out Youth Austin where she is board chair. She is a delightful lady whose partner is Bettie Naylor, an icon in our community. The crowds yesterday were large for the parade and block party and there was a good crowd for my friend Allan Baker's short plays at the Rollins theater. Our police chief, Art Acevedo, led the parade, walking with a group of officers who wanted to show their support for and in our diverse community.

There Was a Lady Who Lost Her Shoe

I was in a hurry to get to an appointment today so I was cutting across the diagonal walk through Republic Park. As I hurried along, I saw this strange sight of a perfectly good shoe just sitting in the grass by itself. Even though I was in a rush, I felt compelled to whip out the trusty iPhone and take a shot. I really wonder what the story is behind this shoe.

More Tats

Our waitress at the Elephant Room Wednesday night had an impressive tattoo herself. She was only too glad to let me take a shot of it. I'm sure there is a story behind the graphics you see here. Next time we go to the E Room, I'll ask her!

Inked Guitar Player

Dave Biller of the Jazz Pharaohs makes the guitar work. He's sporting some tattoos. Shot at Elephant Room.

A Grand Stairway at The Arthouse

One of my volunteer jobs involves taking photos of the construction progress at Arthouse at the Jones Center in the heart of downtown Austin (7th and Congress, to be exact) and posting them in a blog.

One of the architectural features that I find to be especially impressive is the Grand Stairway which leads from the ground floor to the second. This custom-designed staircase is made out of IPE ("EEE-pay") sections. IPE is a Brazilian hardwood which wears like iron. In order to get them installed, each step section had to be hauled to the second floor by means of six strong men maneuvering it onto a specially-rigged winch. Then they were carefully raised. After all of that, each step had to be lowered into place. A tedious feat, but the end result is stunning.

Here you see a workman doing staining and finish work on the stairway.

Who Would Randomly Mow?

On the hill leading down to the hike and bike trail on Lady Bird Lake, there are wildflower areas. They have these signs that say 'no mowing.' Makes you wonder who would go down there and mow without being told to do it. Surely city workers don't just randomly mow, but are assigned by supervisors! Today is a theme day at City Daily Photo and some of the sites will have looked for funny signs because that is the theme. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.