Chair Dancing

My friends Pei San Brown and Michael Smothers were doing some sort of dance last night as the gala multi-event opening of Zach Scott Theatre's Topfer Theatre wound down. Only they were sitting down! This could come in handy as we get older.

Nau's Has Toys

In a case at Nau's Enfield Drug store robots and mechanical toys appear. I don't think they are for sale but you never know!

Grand Opening at Zach Scott Theatre

As part of Zach Scott Theatre grand opening last night of its new Topfer Theatre there was a gala that included a concert by Bernadette Peters and a thirty piece orchestra. Backstage afterwards D.K. and Mike Reynolds had a moment with the gracious star. (That's Austin's Gary Cooper in the background.) Mike is part of the Kleberg family for whom a stage at Zach's complex is named.

Neighborhood Pharmacy

We stepped inside Nau's Enfield Drug on our walk yesterday to get an over the counter drug item. The cashier made change at the counter packed with candy and geegaws.

Beggars

We walked east on the trail yesterday. Near the Four Seasons and boat house there were some very loud and insistent beggar geese who thought we should feed them. First time I've encountered them here but we snapped a picture of some raucous ones west of the Drake bridge once. These appeared to be using the trail, even staying right, but really they squawked insistently at every passerby.

Massive Red

It's been a long time since I've been on Dean Keaton (aka 26th Street) I guess but I didn't remember this massive red sculpture. When we walk around UT, FFP says of many of the structures: "That wasn't here when I was in school." But about this artwork I have to say it wasn't there last time I was here. FFP thinks he saw it on a visit to UT to do an interview.

Balloon Costume

There was a large Gay Pride Parade on Saturday night. Like this balloon costume.

Bettie Naylor Street

They gave a part of Fourth Street the honorary designation of Bettie Naylor Street in honor of a dear friend of ours who died recently. She was a longtime advocate of women and gays. After the speeches and ceremony folks posed with the sign. She's only a couple of blocks from Willie's Honorary Way (Second Street).

Good Morning, Sol

We just passed the equinox and this time of year from our vantage point the sun coming up (which should be almost due  east if I understand it correctly) is visible between the buildings as the earth plunges toward the east. Since we've lived here several (four!) years now we have observed this before.

It's Warm But...

The weather can't seem to decide it's fall with highs creeping back into the low nineties. But there are gourds and pumpkins in the stores.

What You Maker of It

I'm not sure why this mural is on the side of a building on Colorado but what do you make of it?

Bird Mural Detail

A close up of part of yesterday's mural.

New Mural Takes Flight

The mural on the north side of 8th going west from Congress changed this summer to this new one called The Mocking Bird. This is by N.C. Miller and MOUF (?) according to the Eighth  Street Mural Project sign at the beginning. This wall used to contain a mural with Austin 'scenes' like this and this. It's fun to document the changes in the city but I never get close to catching them all.

Brand New Shoes

We were at a party the other night and one of the festive revelers had on these beaded wing tips. Fashion is putting some flash in shoes this season.

Retro Vogue

The sign at Amelia's Retro Vogue and Relics on South First evokes another era of travel. Of course, there is a cell phone tower in view behind it.

Details

When we walk in South Austin, there are lots of auto repair and detail places and such. Occasionally there is a classic car out front like this Corvette.

A Piece at a Time

Walking down Elizabeth Street a few days ago I saw these workers removing this stump by slicing it up into pieces they could pick up and load into the trunk. That was a big tree!

Tonight We Ride

These intrepid sign painters were working on a hot day on an ad being painted on the side of a taxidermy shop at South Lamar and Oltorf the other day. It was advertising tequila and said, in part, "Tonight We Ride...in a cab." Always amazes me in this age of giant, printed vinyl to see hand-painted signs.

New Sign, Mystery Spot

They've been developing a new bar or restaurant at 1417 South First. Still no name on the place but this sign went up.

Yesterday's Sunrise

I didn't see today's. I didn't really see yesterday's sunrise. FFP was awake yesterday, though, and this is what he saw.

It Must Be Fall

Yep, regardless of the temperature, one sure sign that Fall is here is huge displays of pumpkins and gourds at Whole Foods. These beauties would be great for Halloween because they are Wolf Pumpkins! Local produce according to the sign

Fashion Pumps

At the fashion show at Neiman's the other night I turned my camera briefly down to the feet of the front row spectators. Swinging in time to the driving fashion show music were the heels of some very fashionable ladies.

Accessorize

All the fashion fun at a fashion show isn't on the models. This cool purse accessorized a fun outfit for a friend of ours.

Fashion Night Out

Faithful readers have probably figured out that I'm not very 'fashion forward.' FFP does love shopping and picking clothes, however. And both of us love fashion shows. I can't really say why. Maybe it's the drama or wondering how they make such quick changes. Last night was Fashion's Night Out and The Society Diaries Magazine and Neiman Marcus had a reception and fashion show at the Neiman's at the Domain. FFP shot this as one of the official photographers took a picture of a model in front of one the paintings in the store. (This store is worth a visit if you like modern art. I think most of the paintings are from local artists, too.)

Place of Calm

FFP shot this with his iPhone one night when we were in Congress Restaurant. The hostess adjusts her hair while checking the book (which is really a computer these days).  Daylight Savings time means light streams in from outside in the foyer but the dining room is calm with candles and sconces aglow. This place is probably the best place in town for a calm dinner and it's only steps from busy Congress Avenue.

Abstract Woman

This abstract sculpture outside Wally Workman and Urban Roots galleries is very stylized and abstract and yet: it is a woman sitting down holding a bird, isn't it?

Tile Detail

I've walked on this downtown street many time without noticing these decorative tiles. Any Austinites who know where they are located?

Sunset, Reflected

Is it really any wonder that we don't bother to go across the hall to watch the sunset too often when its reflection in the eastern sky with downtown in the foreground looks like this. Taken Friday night.

Hot Art

Love the title of the art show Wally Workman Gallery had recently: "100 Degree: Group Show." Great West Sixth Street Gallery.

People Watching: Orange

Today is theme day for City Daily Photos around the world. The theme is 'people watching.' I gave this one a lot of thought and decided that I would capture some people in a public place, unawares. My apologies to the guy in the baseball cap: he doesn't know he's being photographed. The barista at Halcyon is mostly hidden and the gal on the far right is obscuring herself and the gal behind her while she examines a newly purchased item of orange clothing. Of course, today is the first University of Texas football game of the season and (burnt) orange is the school color. Hence this coffee shop study in orange...from shelf decor to cap to painting to that gal's purchase. When I people watch, one thing I notice is everyone's fashion. This weekend a lot of it will be orange!