A Vehicle the Size of Your Recycling Container

Which do you think has more capacity...the official Austin recycling receptacle or this little three-wheeled vehicle?

Historic Home

There has been a lot of controversy in Austin over homes being designated historic and getting tax breaks, but this one on Blanco Street looks well-maintained and like a bit of history.

Funny on Several Levels

The Armadillo and Lone Star Beer figured in lots of Jim Franklin murals and posters back in the day. Austin Art Glass sports an interpretation worthy of their wares. This mural space seems to change frequently. Captured this mid-August.

It's a Hotel

But you would hardly know it. We stayed here for a couple of days this month to check it out. But over a year ago I puzzled as to what this building might be. It's the Kimber Modern Hotel, a tiny gem in the SoCo area.

Puzzling Mural Indeed

This one is on South Congress, too. On Bird's Barbershop. I don't get it, but I like it and I suspect that the artist is the same as other recent posts, don't you?

Lions

These lions grace a TV and electronics shop on South Congress. I don't know what lions have to do with it, but I like the mural.

Rooster=Restaurant

I continue to puzzle about using a rooster to decorate a restaurant (as here) but this mural is on the Magnolia Cafe on South Congress. Maybe it's because, if you are up with the rooster, you can go here as it is always open.

Head and Hands

Taken by FFP with his iPhone in a antique and junk shop on South Congress. Shopping SoCo is very eclectic!

Flying Pizza

This mural is at Southside Flying Pizza on South Congress. I like the stylized skyline and the psychedelic pizza oven spitting out the wares. Haven't checked out their pizza. Must do some time and compare to the uber popular Home Slice (which I haven't tried either). I seem to be behind on pizza taste tests!

Bright New Sign

The crepe trailer on South Congress (which we'd shown before) has some new signage to attract attention. Still haven't tried their offerings...will have to wait until a cooler day to be outside and eat them.

Jazz Pharoahs rule

Here you see singer extraordinaire Liz Morphis with a new lineup of The Jazz Pharaohs at The Elephant Room. It's always fun to see this group perform. The guitar player at the end is named Albany, by the way. She brings a new vibe to the group with her quiet, centered and easygoing style of playing and singing. All of the players are excellent.

Even Chain Grocery in on SoCo Mural Art

There sure are lots of murals on South Congress. Even the HEB (a Texas chain) got in the act with this one. The store is at Oltorf and South Congress

Alas No Cable or Even a Motel for That Matter

This sign is all that remains of a 'motor court' (aka motel) that once graced South Congress.

Mural at Continental Club

I'm guessing that's supposed to be Stevie Ray on the right. Others?

Summer Salute

Allen's Boots on SoCo was flying some Texas Lone Star Flags the other day and it looked pretty neat with the old stones and stars on the building and the summer blue sky.

Pleasant Patio, Empty

This is the patio at Zocalo Restaurant. It was only around 11AM but it was August. There was a line but most people were inside this bright little Mexican gem on West Lynn taking advantage of the air conditioning.

Sidewalk Ostrich

These gals were in front of Whole Foods downtown one day and appeared to be promoting something...I'm guessing ostrich meat? We were on the opposite side of the street so we never found out!

Natural World on the Move

This art car was parked on Taylor Draper the other day, taking advantage of a shady spot on a hot day. It wasn't abandoned and has come and gone several times since. It is decorated in a 'natural' style with astro turf, real branches and leaves, etc. The dashboard is covered with rocks and the 'theme' continues in the interior. People's cars say a lot about them, but I'm not sure about this message.

Celebrate with Cake and Pizza

This little store on West Twelfth Street makes specialty cakes (weddings anyone?) but also looks to be offering pizza to the nearby Austin Community College students on the campus that is the old Austin High School.

Sunset, Reflected Redux

After some rains we had in July there was a cloudy sunset. This was the resulting reflection in the Frost Bank Tower.

Abstract Art, South Austin Version

Actually this is part of the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture on South Lamar. Building also houses Planet K which is an underground shop selling smoking paraphernalia and erotica and such. Hence the 'K' you see peeking over the mural.

That's Tats!

Saw another great tattoo on our waitperson at Jeffrey's tonight. In spite of being uber-busy, she let me take a quick shot of her arm.

Jazzin the House

We went to a concert at the Elephant Room not long ago and heard a fantastic jazz guitar player named Darin Layne. This shot captured the energy he brought to his performance. Bass player Chris Marsh and a fine young drummer were backing him up.

South Austin Wheel

I don't have fancy wheels but some folks like them.

Bevo Down

At the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture there is always something to make you smile. Like this crash of the Bevo-powered plane (glider?).

Amp it Up

FFP poses at the giant amp in front of South Austin Music...below their giant guitar.

A Movable Feast for the Eyes

I have been doing a weekly blog for Arthouse at Jones Center since last November. Here is one of my latest photos. This magnificent structure on Congress Ave, our main street in downtown, will be displaying some of the finest and most envelope-pushing artwork in the country. Here you see the huge movable wall in the second floor main gallery that is now hung and almost ready for use.

Music Legends

There is a mural on South Lamar shop appropriately called South Austin Music depicting some famous (locally at least) musicians. Can you identify any? Click the picture or here to make it bigger.

Coffee, Quick

Austin has lots of local coffee shops or at least local chains to satisfy your coffee needs without going to that big chain out of Seattle. Brevità is on South Lamar next to a couple of trailers, including that Donut trailer, Gourdough's. You can get a coffee here to go with it or even drive through on your way to work.

Does She Have Any Tattoos?

Our friend Jackie, faithful contributor to this blog, saw my comment about age and tattoos and volunteered this picture of hers, obtained in honor of a certain birthday. She says, "The lizard is a symbol of good luck and renewal (because they can regrow their severed limbs). I figure 'late' in life is a good thing because 1) I could use a little help with renewal and 2) living with a permanent mark for the rest of my life is no big deal. And I chose the henna ink color because it seems to harmonize with the age spots. ;-)" Very amusing, I think. However, she says it's Fresca in the glass because she took it early in the morning.

Three Brave Men

I apologize for not sticking with the theme of "bright colors." I just got up in the early morning and had an impulse to post this photo. Linda reminded me about the theme after I had this photo and text up.

I always look on August 1st as my "second birthday." Reason being, at approximately 11:57 a.m. on August 1, 1966, the "Tower Sniper" Charles Whitman, chose to shoot a high-powered rifle round through the body of a man standing about four feet to my right instead of me. (He died in a local hospital's ER about two-and-a-half hours after that.)

Largely because of the wonders of the Internet, I have managed to meet and become acquainted with many of the former police officers who ascended the University of Texas tower and took Whitman out that fateful day. On April 1, 2007, I was privileged to go to the top of the tower with them and relive the moments they spent up there.

Here you see three of them in the elevator they used on August 1, 1966, to reach the top. Left to right, they are Houston McCoy, Jerry Day and Phillip Conner. McCoy is the man who put two shotgun rounds in Whitman's head and ended the rampage at around 1:20 p.m. Jerry Day, armed with nothing more than his service revolver, was headed towards Whitman from the south side of the observation deck. Phillip Conner had stationed himself in the west window of the deck, trying to get a shot at the sniper from there. (Whitman was in the northwest corner.) If you want to read my account of what I went through, here is the link:
http://www.austinprop.com/Whitman.htm

Forty-four years later, I can still remember so much about that day.