Herding the cows

I took this photo from the Drake Bridge over Lady Bird Lake a few days ago. It shows two of our decorative cows seemingly being herded by a white city of Austin pickup.

Flowery Cow

This cow painted with bluebonnets, our state flower, is resting on the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge over Lady Bird Lake. It's part of the herd of over 100 colorful cows around Austin. Lots of people are out having fun posing their kids for photos with these bovines.

Out to pasture

The latest idea for public art in our town is a herd of fanciful cows. Here you see one who "Loves Moo." Linda and I shot a series of photos of these creatures who are roaming around the downtown area and we'll be putting them up over the next few days.

Application to Sell Beverages

This Rainey Street structure may look mostly torn down. But...they have an application to sell alcohol posted. I believe this will be a place called Javelina and they are applying for a mixed beverage license with late hours.

Clever Decoration

Chuy's has always been known for clever decoration using old collections of stuff. Noticed the other day that the one on Barton Springs sports old speakers from drive-in movies on its railing. Remember those? They would hang in your car window and bring a crackling sound track to the movie on a giant screen while everyone else sat in their cars watching with you but in their own little cocoon.

Boite Jour

In France they call nightclubs boîte nuits (literally night boxes). On South Lamar you'll find a cafe which is called La Boîte and which is made from a shipping container. It is open during the day hence the title of this post.

A Tree that Loves Water

Cypress trees love to grow where there is a constant source of water like this one growing near the Lou Neff Point where Barton Creek meets Lady Bird Lake. The 'knees' on the roots and the fine foliage identify this tree. I believe these trees are actually native to Central Texas creeks.

Trailer Food

A trailer on South Lamar offers a very uptown casual menu. Click to enlarge and read the details of the Velvet Elvis.

Primitive Tendencies

Howl is an upscale store on South Lamar selling home furnishings. The de-evolution of man billboard is advertising a radio talk program which includes Dale Dudley, an acquaintance of ours.

Pink rabbit

I was on my morning walk Thursday and came upon this pink motor scooter. To me, it looked like a bunny rabbit loose in the urban wilds. This person's bumper stickers were great. One said, "If being in a church makes you a Christian, does being in a garage make you a car"?"

Alien Lifeform or ?

Shot a picture of this gadget that is in an alley over by Rainey Street. Security camera? I don't know. Sort of looks like the Austonian's mutant baby.

Clean Windows

This fellow rappelled past our window giving them a cleaning today. Thought he'd brought rain by doing it but all we got was a bit of thunder and lightning.

Does not Access Internet

This interesting old Oliver Typewriter was for sale the other day at Uncommon Objects on South Congress.

Urban Cat

Our friends in Milago Condos have a cat who is no longer impressed with the sweeping river and skyline view. That's our building (the 360) in the middle of the background.

BIg City Bucolic

From the pedestrian bridge under Mopac on Friday looking back at the skyline. Lady Bird Lake is full of watercraft from Lone Star rentals at the curve.

Thirty-Some Years Ago

Time flies when you are having fun. Clifford Antone opened the eponymous Antone's thirty-six years ago yesterday. They've been in several locations, Clifford has passed on but his sister and others keep the funky, blues-focused joint going in its current Fifth and Lavaca location. Last night we saw the first set at the anniversary show, the Marcia Ball band (above). In November it will be thirty-six years since FFP and I had our first date. It was at the Armadillo World Headquarters and guess who we heard? Yes: Marcia Ball! (No relation but now a friend of ours.)

Live Here, Ride the Train Downtown

On Thursday I rode the Capital MetroRail line out to the Lakeline Station and back. No good reason. It doesn't really go anywhere I want to go, but I wanted to ride it. It leaves downtown from the Convention Center as I've mentioned in this space. This is the Crestview Station where there is a development of housing and (eventually?) retail right on the line. If you work downtown this could be convenient. Don't plan to use it nights and weekends, though. The train shares the track with freight schedules and they can't permanently add this type of schedule. It's very nice but seems a huge waste of money for the transportation provided. I wish I could ride something like this to a place I wanted to go!

She's a Doll

This doll, ready for an old-fashioned dress, is for sale at the awesome Uncommon Objects antique mall on South Congress. We were there on Wednesday when we walked to SoCo for lunch (in spite of the heat). We also visited the new bookstore we had noticed getting set up last time we were on the street.

Four goose morning

These quackers were strutting around the shore of Lady Bird Lake a few days ago. I guess they thought I had some food for them. I like the guy who his poking his head over the embankment.

Our little town

If I was still running my ad agency and we were trying to create this shot, we couldn't have done better than this. I snapped this one by sheer luck when I saw the composition forming the other day. Kind of cool that Forbes says we are the number one "Next Big Boom Town" in the country.

Urban Gardener

When we moved from a house with a large yard, people said we'd miss the outdoors. We still have Lady Bird Lake as our backyard. But, truthfully, planting, weeding, watering and such had long since lost its appeal. Some people really do miss getting their hands in the dirt, though. Our friend Greg who lives in a condo across the river from ours has adopted some plantings on the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge. Here he waters with a lake water connection provided. He warned the ladies they might get sprayed but they were so hot that they wanted a little cool mist.

One More Tennis Picture

USA hopes were dashed in a four setter match between Mardy Fish and David Ferrer yesterday that took over four hours. The final (dead) match didn't take place. I'm going to leave you with a picture from Saturday of Bob Bryan striking a volley while Mike positions himself. Or is it the other way around? Nope...that's Bob hitting. He's the left-handed one!

I think it's safe to say that our team was disappointed and a packed Erwin Center crowd, too. But I don't think I was the only one who fell even harder for this Nadal-less Spanish team. I'd enjoyed Ferrer and Verdasco before and Lopez' great recent Wimby performance. But the hours I spent this weekend watching how much heart they had made me a bigger fan. Ditto Mardy Fish. Makes me want to see even more live tennis at this level. Maybe I'll have to visit New York or London or Paris or Melbourne. (I've linked to some of the City Daily Photo blogs for cities hosting Grand Slams!)

Bryan Brothers Give U.S.A. Hope

After dropping two singles matches, the U.S. was given a slim hope in the Davis Cup Quarterfinals going into Sunday by a four set victory by Bob and Mike Bryan. Nice match. In this photo the overhead video shows them thanking the crowd for supporting them and pumping them up. I have loved seeing professional tennis live again. It has been a long time.

International Tennis

The Davis Cup Quarterfinal Round between the U.S. and Spain is happening this weekend in Austin. Yesterday was the opening ceremony and two singles matches. We were at Erwin Center for eight hours because the match between Mardy Fish and José Lopez went to five sets. One of the best tennis matches I've ever seen. Unfortunately, Mardy fell 6-8 in the third. David Ferrer rose to the occasion, too, defeating powerful server Andy Roddick in straight sets on the fast indoor surface. Now the Brian brothers must win a doubles match today to send Spain to Sunday looking for the third victory needed. I really enjoyed the tennis although our seats were on the top row of the mezzanine of Erwin center. Took this with my little camera on maximum zoom!

Nice views

Both the people in the luxury homes above Lady Bird Lake and these people on the water are able to take a breathtaking view of Austin. We are fortunate enough to know some people who have homes with these vantage points and we are always stunned by the panoramic views that they have when we visit their homes.

Walk with me

Linda and I were out for a walk around the lake a few days ago and we were headed back north to our place when I shot this photo. This striking walkway is a new part of the trail system.

Have you ever seen a nutria?

On our morning walk a few days ago, we saw this young lady by a nutria enjoying a little sunshine on the shore of Barton Creek. It's not often you see these animals.

Lost and Found

Linda and I went for a long walk around Lady Bird Lake yesterday morning. While still on the north shore, we saw this ad hoc "Lost and Found department" various joggers and walkers had created. The plaque on this stone is about the story behind the naming of Travis County. I also wonder about the story behind each of these items. Two of these sets have both car and house keys. What a hassle!

Freedom

Oil Can Harry's Bar replaced their usual colorful flags with the stars and stripes for the holidays. Here's wishing everyone freedom.

Easy Riders

I was walking home from a brunch at a restaurant on the south shore Saturday morning and saw this group of people taking a leisurely stroll on the waters of Lady Bird Lake. It took a few tries, but I finally got a composition I liked.

Lone Star Cruises

I was taking an exercise walk on the north side of Lady Bird Lake yesterday and noticed how nice this Lone Star Cruises boat looked on the south shore, reflected in the lake. Normally they'd have a special cruise to watch the July 4th firecrackers go off Monday, but not this year. Fireworks displays all over the place have been canceled because of the drought and extreme fire danger. I think downtown may feel like a bit of a ghost town on Monday. I'm not all that sad about that, really.

The Color Green

It's the first of the month. Theme day. The theme is the 'colour green.' Our English speaking leaders are, well, English. Austin and most of Texas are in a severe, disastrous drought. However, one block over from us the decommissioned Green Water Treatment plant land is luxuriously green. They divert water from the fire hydrant at all hours of the days and water it and they have installed lights on the property. But it is not a new park, but merely a holding pond for flood runoff or something, off limits to its neighbors. Does give us a spot of green to look at, though.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in this theme day.