Bird's eye view

Yes, our little town is growing up. I went to a balcony on our floor and took this panoramic shot of the three big construction projects going on south of our home. Left to right, you see the Trammell Crow development, the new library in the middle, and the Seaholm project.

A great book by a local author

Our friend Elizabeth Crook has written a terrific book which has the University of Texas Tower shooting as its touchstone event. She is getting lots of national press and many good reviews about it. I took this shot at a local bookstore which has it prominently displayed.

Soothing words

A bit of humor from the Chocolate Man. No further comment needed.

Stand Up Straight!

It's funny how different the yellow-crowned nigh heron looks when he stretches up.

Claim It!

The informal lost and found under the Mopac bridge was full of keys the other day. And a watch. For once no children's shoes, toys or sippy cups.

What's Yours?

This paper graffiti has been showing up around Lady Bird Lake. Take heed before it disappears under gray or taupe paint.

Hall of Honor listing.

This plaque is part of the monument on the Texas Capitol grounds showing the names of Texas law officers who have died in the line of duty. Here you see a section that includes Billy Paul Speed who was shot by the University of Texas Tower Sniper and J.D. Tippit who was killed after the Kennedy assassination. That is my reflection.

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

Seen early in August from the boardwalk.

Lovely Graffiti

It will almost be a shame when this graffiti under the IH35 bridge is painted over. It looks like a Japanese screen. Seen from the boardwalk.

Dog Paddle

Both paddling woman and the dog appear to be having a fine time. And...does he have on a life perserver?

Say Cheese

This trailer on South Congress has gourmet grilled cheese. Haven't tried it but very tempted.

Sailing Downtown

Shot from the boardwalk. You don't see a lot of sailboats on Lady Bird Lake but there is a rental place east of IH35 on the north side.

Framing the skyline

The new boardwalk lets us all have a taste of natural beauty along with the soaring views of the tall buildings downtown.

Lucky ducks

These ducks weren't paying much attention to the construction projects around town. They just wanted a few bugs to eat.

Skyline at dusk

I took a walk along the boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake a few nights ago. Here is the view I saw. It's amazing how sweet a photo you can take with an iPhone now. That's our "house" on the left.

Batwatch

A lot of people seem to think it's a good idea to be underneath a huge flock of bats that emerges from under the Congress Avenue Bridge each night. This group of people was eagerly awaiting the event.

Starry, starry guitar

This guitar sculpture is one of my favorites downtown. Vincent Van Gogh would have been proud. Well, maybe he would. Amazed, I guess.

August in Austin, redbuds in bloom

This landscaper is doing a good job of keeping these redbuds blooming and looking good near a downtown office building.

Big display of a great book

Sarah Bird is a good friend and one of our favorite authors. I was glad to see this display of her latest work at BookPeople, a few blocks from where we live.

That's my hometown!

I attended a meeting in the penthouse room at the Hyatt on the south shore of the lake recently. While standing around and chatting, I took this panoramic shot of the skyline from a fresh perspective. My little hometown has grown up to be bigtime!

That dog is paddling!

I took this shot with my iPhone from the MoPac footbridge.That dog is a real swimmer, let me tell you!

Signs of the times

In the seventies, a really fine house in Austin cost around $50,000. Now a lot in Bouldin is a steal at $100,000.

Great jazz in the hood

A few weeks ago, local star Elias Haslinger (right, on sax) teamed up with trombonist Andre Hayward, one of the stalwarts from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, to grace the stage at The Elephant Room a few blocks from our home.

Some bird's nest!

Somebody's old mattress wound up in a tree after a recent downpour. I wish people would not chunk items into the creeks. My guess is that some homeless person was probably using this mattress to sleep on and it washed away.

The view from our balcony

Lots of activity at the construction site a half block south of us on a recent morning. There will be a couple of forty-story plus buildings here when they are done.

A well-preserved automobile

This fine old Mercedes was parked in front of a body shop on South Congress not long ago. I'll bet someone is really proud of it.  

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Austin has loads of food trailers around the central city. This one is especially elaborate and it attracts a lot of customers.

Life goes on

While the three students in the front were holding up photos of people who were shot in the 8/1/66 massacre on the University of Texas campus, a girl in the background was flashing "hook 'em" and having her photo shot on the steps of the main building.

Honoring the dead

On August 1 this year, the 48th anniversary of the Tower Sniper massacre at the University of Texas, some current day students organized a memorial service on campus. In this photo, they are holding up pictures of the three people who died inside the tower. The man with the camera is Keith Maitland, who is making a documentary about the shootings.

Interesting Construction

Last month these guys were putting together a building on the park land by Zach Scott. Caged rocks?

Take Some Home

It's theme day at City Daily Photo. Since it's a worldwide portal the theme is 'take away' or 'take out' or 'take-out' as here. Here we see the take-out window for Home Slice pizza in their second building. This is very popular pizza on South Congress. Click here to see takes on this theme from around the world.