Goodbye to 2014

The years go by faster and faster. For the last photo of the year, I though that I would put up a shot of my wife and partner in posting as she walks down an Austin street. We look forward to more adventures, seeking out interesting things to post in 2015 -- and to seeing what all of our fellow City Daily Photo friends have to show and say. All the best to you!

Fan out.

I don't know why anyone would abandon a fan in a grocery basket, but that's what someone did here.

Welcome home

This south Austin house has a rather interesting assemblage in its front yard. A doll's head, a toy road grader and a some broken pots are among the items greeting passers-by.

Bird Call

The native Mexican appears to call our spirit birds on the side of this restaurant on the east side.

Band Together

This mural is on the east side. The traditional corazón seems to have musical instruments for valves and there are musical symbols around it. There appears to be a Mezcaleria upstairs.

Band of Heathens

On this Boxing Day I give you Jackie's photo of the Band of Heathens. After holiday excesses it seems appropriate.

Merry Christmas

I usually play tennis on Thursday mornings. Not today because it's Christmas. I would do it myself, but the club is closed and my mates are probably all having Christmas celebrations. That's me, last Thursday, with the tree in the tennis center at the club. And, yes, they did hang tennis balls among the baubles.

And to All a Good Night!

The Trail of Lights at Zilker Park is over. It's not our thing but this Christmas Eve we leave you with our friend Jackie's picture from her apartment balcony. Stunning.

Tedeschi Trucks Band

Back in November Jackie got this shot at the Moody Theater. She says:

We saw this great band, a favorite of ours, at ACL Live a couple of years ago. They were here again November 12^th, and better than ever.

The local Band of Heathens opened for them. A pleasant discovery for us.

Songstress

Our friend Jackie captured this shot of Melissa Etheridge at the Moody Theater this month. She says:

We loved her in her heyday, but hadn’t heard her in years. We think she’s better than ever. She played drums, several different kinds of guitars, and harmonica, while belting out one lusty song after another. Lighting was very conducive to dramatic photography.

Panoramic growth

A recent panoramic shot from our fitness center's balcony. Left to right, the Trammell Crow development, the new public library central facility, and the Seaholm project. Note the yellow bridge supports for the Second Street extension west and the steamshovel doing work on the western bank of Shoal Creek.

A welcoming sight

The check-in desk at the Driskill is always a pleasing place. They have a small tree behind it for Christmas cheer.

Peppermint Pretty!

This cute house puts peppermint in a lot of forms to good use.

Peanut Brittle House is tasty

Love this idea! One of the candy houses at the Four Seasons.

One sweet Christmas house

I love the annual displays at the Four Seasons. This year they made candy houses. 

Holiday in abstract

Linda posed with this contemporary display on our way home the other night.

Spare change?

This money was sitting outside a downtown office building. I felt like putting some of my own with it.

Milk and Honey

I like this tree made out of roses at Milk and Honey, where I get my hair cut.

Stephen F. Austin tree

This tree at the Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental is pretty wonderful, too.

Christmas at the Driskill

Here is Linda with the magnificent tree at the Driskill Hotel.This one is always a visual treat.

Austin Club Christmas

We're going to treat you to some trees from around town. This one is in the Austin Club, where we ate dinner a few nights ago.

Condo Christmas

Our staff makes the lights match the season. They've got a red white and blue theme going on right now which is fine for the holidays.

Texas Christmas

These century plants (agave) are decorated for our probably snow-less Christmas.

Fall

The berries on this tree are red and the leaves on the vine invading it are yellow making for a nice display.

Move along now.

This parking garage gridlock happened after a concert a few days ago. Glad we live downtown and can walk to events.

Hold that pose!

I caught this photo session from my balcony a few days ago.

Line up now!

These dedicated souls were in line a day in advance to hear a band called 1975. I hope it was worth it.

The latest from Graffiti Gardens

Here is a new shot of the Hope Outdoor Garden where graffiti artists are invited to do their thing.

It got that way very fast.

It's beyond that point now!

See all about it!

On election night, news crews from all over Texas were lined up outside the hotel where the victory party for the Governor's race was being held.

Standpipe by me

Here is our entry for the "Worker" City Daily Photo Theme Day. As long as half the streets in downtown Austin are torn up, I figured we might as well take a few photos of the activity. It takes some skilled people to make these projects happen.This standpipe near our building will last a long time, I hope.

Click here to see other theme interpretations from around the work.

Water in the creek for a change

These folks were enjoying the water in Shoal Creek the other day after a rain.

Shooting near our condo

At 2:21 Friday morning, I was rousted out of bed by a series of gunshots which were being fired at the Federal Courthouse diagonally across from our building -- first about twelve rounds from what sounded to be a hand gun and then about fifteen explosive rounds from a large weapon. The shooter was later cornered at the Police Station where he did major damage to the front of the building with an automatic weapon. He also did a number on the Mexican Consulate where he tried to plant propane canisters that were supposed to catch fire. The small fire that resulted was extinguished before it could do any harm. He was killed at the police headquarters. Whether he died by a shot from an officer who had a bead on him or by his own hand, we do not know yet. This photo is of Nueces Street where law officers put markers near the slugs they found on the street. I took it from my balcony.

Beautiful, beautiful Texas

We love sunrises from our balcony.

Garlic toast, anyone?

Some tasty looking garlic was ready for the buying at a recent farmers' market.

Um, yeah.

I wonder how many people walking by this sign on a Sunday morning got the irony in it.

Hard to argue.

I love his sentiments.

Hot stuff!

These peppers were on display at the Farmer's Market a couple of Saturdays ago.

Now THIS is branding!

These brave workers are attaching the logo to the new JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Austin.

Pittie Pride

The public art board at Frank is promoting pride for Pit Bulls. The painter shown here is putting up some pit bull names.

New Bridge

This is Shoal Creek sporting a new span at what will be Second Street as it is opened between San Antonio and West. The bridge is under construction. Thanks Jackie for the nice photo from Cesar Chavez. Foreground right is Austin Music Hall with the 360's parking garage and pool deck behind it and the new Seventh Apartments to the left. (They are topped out but not finished. They are between Rio Grande and Nueces on Seventh.) Our neighborhood is changing fast.

Formula 1 Car

I cannot imagine even getting in this thing -- much less driving it at an insane speed. My hat's off to those who do.

This isn't your kid brother's Go-Kart

I would need a lot of help to even get into this car. Can you image trying to drive this thing?

The Ultimate Driving Machine

Here is a 1957 BMW Isetta 300 -- valued between $30,000 and $45,000. Looks like it is ready for a trip. Not much trunk room.

Yes, it's a Messerschmitt

As part of the Formula 1 exhibition in downtown the other day, they had a vintage car show at the Long Center. This little red number, a 1959 Messerschmitt KR200, goes for $35-$55,000.

Good fences make good Capitols

This marker is on the fence around the State Capitol. 10 Dec 1885!

Urban sunrise

Had to snap this one in a hurry. It was changing by the second. This is the sunrise from our balcony at this time of year.

It's hunting season.

Hard to say much more on this one. Doubt if this car is in Formula 1.

Cycles of life

Yes, the Day of the Dead always brings out the best in window decorations at certain local shops.

Kayaking on down.

I always like to see people having fun on the lake. Noticed these kayakers the other day.