Bluegrass in the park

They are back again! This duo had just started when I walked up-- I love it when youngsters show promise -- the young girl was singing and playing with the polish of a seasoned pro. And several people had dropped a bill or two in the case to reward their efforts.

A morning song

This good old boy was warbling a few tunes in the park last Saturday. I'm not sure what you'd call that four string instrument of his.

Scads of scones

Cake and Spoon's booth always features a fine array of cinnamon rolls and scones. It's hard to resist these things and sometimes I cave in and buy one.

Homeade jams galore

Grapefruit and vanilla bean jam?  Sounds delicious. I was tempted.

Gluten-free goodies

This lovely young lady who is the "Big Bird" at Blackbird Bakery has found a way to make gluten-free pastries actually taste good.  Her cookbook was reviewed in the NY Times and now she is offering her wares here in town. Linda and I tried one of her goat cheese bite-size pastries and it was amazingly delicious.

Cheese, please.

Our friend Megan at Arro, a restaurant down the street, served us a delightful cheese plate Saturday night before we came home for a well-deserved night of relaxation.

SoCo Mural

This mural is at Doc's on South Congress. I think it appeared recently. Very, um, psychedelic.

Finally! Let's get this show on the road!

After years of the land sitting there untouched, the huge construction project just south of us is finally underway. It will be fun to watch what happens in the months to come. Of course, eventually our view of the lake will be compromised, which is the downside for us. 

LB here, thinking about the transformation of this lot. Here's a view just after we moved in where you can see the tower and tanks still in operation. And here's the poor little tower after it came down (not as planned it seems). Here the lot was just a big sandbox. Here was the shape they left it in where they grew grass with water diverted from a fire hydrant.

Fair warning

The Chocolate Man always gets in a good quip at the Farmer's Market.

Topping out

This building, which is about a block from where we live, has hit its tallest construction point so they "stuck a tree" on it.

Bags of veggies

Not a bad idea for a winter day -- roasting a bag full of root veggies. Organic at that!

Bluegrass traditions

These lovely young ladies were playing and singing at the Farmer's Market Saturday. Nice bluegrass music to start the day off.

More Boots on SoCo

There's a new boot shop on SoCo. That makes three, I think, plus the vintage boots available at several vintage shops and a vendor who shows up in the Snack Bar parking lot some Sundays. So...if you want some boots.... Not as many Texans have a pair as you might think.

If I Had a Hammer

This is part of the Pease Park/Shoal Creek Trail installation I introduced you to day before yesterday. The stars make me think the glove on the other one was part of the art. Freedom? Hammer? Hmmm....

Heart in Texas

These "Heart in the Deep of Texas" cookies were on sale for Valentine's Day at Sweetish Hill Bakery. Cute. Happy St. Valentine's to those who observe it. We'll be seeing Ballet Austin's The Glass Project tonight.

Finding Your Way in Art

We walked through Pease Park and up the Shoal Creek Trail to 29th Street the other day. Someone had made art from a few logs in a clearing. Not sure if the glove was part of the installation or lost and found.

The Chocolate Man Always Has Good Thoughts

The latest philosophy from the Cocoa Puro Chocolates booth at the Farmers Market.

And Makes You Happy

On a cold Monday the bars on East Sixth compete heavily for some happy hour business with signs luring people in with clever sayings, specials and early start times.

Art...and groceries

Our Great Streets program (which is really great sidewalks and pleases me enormously for the most part) has transformed East Third near the new Whitley Apartments. The tile thing is, apparently, art? In the background you see a new Royal Blue Grocery, the fourth one. There will also be a Royal Blue at the Skyhouse on Rainey Street soon.

Almost!

The JW Marriott on Congress from the back side. They are putting the finishing touches on the top.

Flying Pig

This sign was by the booth for the Foreign & Domestic restaurant at the recent chili cook-off at Jo's on South Congress, benefiting the Sustainable Food Center. I like the flying pig logo. It's a great restaurant which is unfortunately out of our walking range.

The Aliens Have Landed

Too bad the Nissan got in the picture. Otherwise this might look otherworldly with the Long Center ring and the Palmer Events roof and this temporary Architects of Air thing where you can go through a sort of light show.

Gift of Graffiti

Saw this on the Lamar Bridge wall the other day. This section gets painted over and retagged frequently. I often like the offerings. I'm not really in favor of graffiti in general but in some spots it does liven things up.

Catching Some Sun on A Winter Day

It's cold or it's warm. That pretty much describes our winters. We were walking on South Congress on a sunny shirt sleeve kind of day when I noticed this gal catching some rays and catching up on her messages on the balcony of the San Jose Hotel.

Better ingredients, better chili.

Here was the partial array of ingredients one of the contestants in the chili cook-off behind Jo's Coffee was displaying.

Cheese toast with that chili!

These chefs were dealing out pieces of Texas toast with cheese spread on them to go along with their chili at a recent Chili Cook-off on South Congress.

These are new ones on me!

I had never heard of Easter Egg radishes. They look good!

Please Enter

It's theme day at City Daily Photo. The theme is ENTRY. These colorful steps on South First invite you to the entry, don't they? Click here to see other theme day entries from City Daily Photo.