Running Trail

I took this a couple of weeks ago. The weather has cooled off a bit since but shirtless running in November is certainly often possible here. The gents were on the Butler Trail on the North Shore of Lady Bird Lake.

Sunset Python

Jackie caught this sunset a couple of weeks ago with one dominant snaky cloud. The view is west over Lady Bird Lake which is reflecting the sky in the foreground.

And still another from the Creek

This picture of Jackie's shows several displays with the walkways and a bridge.

More Waller Creek Lights

Again, credit to Jackie for this great picture.

Creek Light Show

There was a lovely light show on Waller Creek that ended last weekend. I believe they are trying to attract attention to the creek and its neglect because there is a gigantic project underway to fund improvements. We didn't see the project lit but our intrepid friend Jackie got over there at night and we will share some of her photos.

Stark Tree

This metal tree sculpture outside the Cirrus Logic buidling on West Sixth lights up blue at night. It has a very wintery look. (But we've yet to have much evidence of winter here in Austin.) Thanks to Jackie for this one.

Brave guys

These workmen were hanging a grid on the side of a tall building across from us a few mornings ago. I wouldn't want that job!

New use for denim!

This artwork (a depiction of the rabbit over Uncommon Objects) was made from bleach on black denim.

Vets speak out

This group had a cause they were marching for in the Veterans Day parade.

Goose!

We saw this lovable dog on an art tour the other day. He's a sheepdoodle named Goose.

Bad News!

We were confronted by these signs at one of our favorite jazz clubs the other day. Turns our there is a sinkhole under its building.

The Kiss

At the Veteran's Day parade this month, these intrepid folks reenacted the kiss caught by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt on VJ-Day in Times Square. The couple would pause and then, after a few beats, do the kiss again.

Big Bertha

Our friend Jackie recently attended the Texas Tribune Festival and The University of Texas brought their giant drum (called 'Big Bertha") to show off during the food trailer lunch.

Over Austin

After our friend Jackie researched the biplane she saw flying near her apartment she was determined to ride in this sightseeing vehicle. She shot this amazing picture of the Pennybacker bridge during her tour.

Guarding the Street

We walked down a dead-end street the other day and these two promptly came to the window. One barked vociferously while the other looked out for other interlopers.

Austin Film Festival Awards

The Austin Film Festival award for Excellence in Television went to Norman Lear this year. Here he watches the proceedings after being introduced by Mary Kay Place and accepting his award.

Vote for Me

Saw this Mayor Dog hanging around the Farmer's Market after a dog costume contest. Very official looking. Think he should consider a presidential run.

Spruced up for a change!

Here are your bloggers all cleaned up and decked out at the Ballet Austin gala.

Old street signs

These orange and white signs are a blast from the past. These days the signs are dark green with white letters.

I wonder how much it's worth?

This is probably the last empty lot in West Austin. It would probably go for at least $250,000.

Welcome to the studio

Here is the other construction at the McNay in San Antonio. This "artist's studio" is made -- 100% -- out of cardboard.

Say "Cheez"!

We were in San Antonio the other day and stopped by the McNay Museum. They had a couple of amazing constructions. This one is of a cocktail party full of people and furniture made out of Cheez Doodles. (OK, so this isn't Austin, but it's still interesting)

Dinner on the lake. On a boat.

We enjoyed wine, food and friends on Lake Austin the other night.

New library looms large

That building with the green on it is the new Austin central library which will be a high tech marvel. And it will have lakeside views!

Now that's a great sandwich!

Here is my partner in blogging having a Queen B sandwich at Avenue B Grocery, founded 1910.

Local coffee tastes better!

Spider House takes a stand! Sip local!

Scary times!

I guess having to get a bail bond would be a scary thing. Even more so at Halloween.

Rabbi/Chaplin Marie!

Our friend Marie is a rabbi and also serves as a police chaplin. Here she is with Austin's police chief.

Temporary graveyard

A house in Hyde Park went to a lot of trouble putting tombstones in their front yard. Halloween is a big deal in Austin!

Views are Fleeting

There was a Teju Cole essay on photography in the NY Times magazine a couple of weeks ago. I saved this quote because it really seemed to define photography for me:

"Photography is inescapably a memorial art. It selects, out of the flow of time, a moment to be preserved, with the moments before and after falling away like sheer cliffs."

Given this definition, just about any photo from any contributor to the City Daily Photo blogs would do for this month's theme day: ephemeral.

This is a photo taken from my chair in our apartment. A very heavy rain is almost blocking out the buildings that usually populate this view. But is there a non-ephermeral view? Across time buildings are built, the light changes and, yes, the rain falls. The point in time matters, the point of view matters. In reviewing old pictures in this blog of our building and views from here, I came across this one showing the view when we were sleeping on a hide-a-bed couch in the living room because our bedroom wasn't furnished yet. That moment was ephemeral, too. But I couldn't have said it better than Teju Cole.

Click here to see how others have interpreted the theme.