Sunday, December 31, 2017

Nice music-- feliz navidad!


This excellent signer was performing some terrific Latin songs at a private party the other night. These people really know how to put on a fine event.

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Holiday Buffet -- What a Treat!


We always love this buffet at the Headliners Club that takes place just before Christmas. It's a chance to catch up with a lot of friends and make some new ones. The food is always great, too. Unlimited tamales and shrimp. What is not to like?

Friday, December 29, 2017

Boot off!


Someone decided that one boot was enough to get them home, I suppose.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Nice design


I love the open air design of the new library -- it is so refreshing to wander through it and take a leisurely look at books that I have not read before.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Two brave men, one big building


These guys are making a terrifying task look easy. I got a photo of them working on the building across the street on a recent afternoon.

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Ergonomically correct chairs


These chairs at the new Austin Public Library are really comfortable. I love sitting in one of them and taking time to relax and read a book.

Monday, December 25, 2017

A Time for Reflection

Well, the big day has arrived. Not so much for us. We took this in one of the hotels, reflecting ourselves in a large ornament. We used the picture for our Christmas card with the tagline "A Time for Reflection." And, so it is.

Sunday, December 24, 2017

The stockings were hung


We both have managed to hang onto our Christmas stockings after all these years. Mine dates from 1951. Linda's is from 1972 or so. I hope Santa shows up.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Friday, December 22, 2017

Christmas decor in our condo


We like to dress up our little bar area for the season. I love all these Santas and other little fellows that Linda has collected over the years.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Christmas Chorale and lots of carols


We enjoyed hearing this Christmas concert by U of Texas music students the other night.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Homey Christmas


This cute little house near Clarksville always has great decorations this time of year.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Monday, December 18, 2017

Monk Parakeets

Jackie shot this picture a couple of weeks ago near Town Lake. Here's what she said about the shot and this flock often seen around Austin:
There’s an enormous bird’s nest atop a power pole at the corner of Sandra Muraida Way and Lamar. We can see it from our apartment but can’t see inside it from here. Walking below we always hear chirps but no bird sightings until yesterday. Lo and behold, we confirmed that the nest belongs to feral monk parakeets, year-round residents of Austin since the early ‘70s. Cornell’s Ornithology site says “They are the only parrots to nest communally; dozens live together year-round in large, multifamily stick nests built in trees and on power poles.” The bird at the top of the shot posed for me patiently as I clumsily dug my phone out of my backpack and zoomed in. There’s another parakeet visible at the lower left of the shot; looks like that one is busily doing nest maintenance.

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Topping it off!


The tree-topping ornament here is outstanding. Another beautiful tree in downtown Austin.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

One for the records!


A terrific tree at Wild about Music, a local shop. Makes me miss my turntable.

Friday, December 15, 2017

Thursday, December 14, 2017

JW Marriott showing their Christmastime cheer


Another pretty tree and reindeer too! This display is in the lobby of the JW Marriott.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Star power for Christmas


This window has shades of Bergdorf Goodman, but it's in Austin! Very stylish lady indeed.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Eloise would approve!


This fancy tree is in the lobby of the historical Driskill Hotel. Quite a sight!

Monday, December 11, 2017

Make 'em want it!


There was s long line at this downtown club the other night. Who knows what is so special about going there?

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Your chariot awaits!


This carriage was waiting to take someone on a horse-drawn ride. It was stationed outside the south door of the Driskill Hotel.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Ride on Rudolph!


Christmas decor in downtown Austin veers off the beaten path. Here is a bike laden with goodies. 

Friday, December 8, 2017

Ballet Austin headquarters


That low building in the middle of this photo houses Ballet Austin. What a brilliant move we made buying this property before the mega-boom hit. I have been on its board of directors since 1998.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Play it as it lays


This confection delight is gracing the lobby at the Four Seasons Hotel for the holiday season. How elaborate it is! So much detail work went into this piece.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Shattering the glass ceilings.


Another pin from the Madeleine Albright collection. This pin pretty much says it all about a great woman's ascent to power.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Turtles


These turtle pins are part of the collection of pins that belong to Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State during the Clinton administration.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Birds!


Another selection from Madeleine Albright's collection of pins.

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Saturday, December 2, 2017

LBJ -- all the way


Linda and I made a trip to the Lyndon B. Johnson Library the other day. This time there was an exhibition of Madeleine Albright's fantastic jeweled pin collection. Also, there was a new video about President Johnson's career.

Friday, December 1, 2017

It's a Wrap!


It's Theme Day here at City Daily Photo. Yep, we are still participating in the larger worldwide group of bloggers posting a picture a day from their environs. The theme for December 1 is 'Gift.' Check out this lovely picture of gifts under a tree, done up expertly in a thematic fashion. Our tree? Nope. Every year about this time we walk around our downtown Austin home and take pictures of decorations in shops and hotels. The Four Seasons hotel tree had these gifts underneath. I'm quite sure they are empty, but there is nothing like a tree surrounded by beautiful packages to get folks excited about Christmas.It's our acquisitive nature I suppose. Click here to see what others in the Daily Photo family offer for the theme. A creche or two perhaps? Something or someone they consider a gift for themselves or their community? Someone receiving or giving a gift? Santa, maybe? It is always fun to see scores of interpretations.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Dramatic dance


This was the start of a dance piece in the overall work Illusory Impressions we saw the other night. The lighting was spectacular. The whole thing was staged in a central Austin estate.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Garrison Keillor


We got to meet Garrison Keillor, red shoes and all, after his performance at the Paramount Theatre the other night. Quite a fellow. A very enjoyable man. Always relaxed.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Modern dance in an olden setting


Illusory Impressions was the name of this wonderful dance performance that was held at Jennifer's Gardens here in town the other night. Our friend Michelle, who used to dance with Ballet Austin, created this delightful piece.

Monday, November 27, 2017

The tallest yet


Here you see the Independent Building, looming over the new library. This towering structure will be the tallest residential-only building west of the Mississippi when it is done. We all call it the Jenga Building for obvious reasons.

Sunday, November 26, 2017

A good time was had by all


We had fun with two great friends of ours at the AIDS Services of Austin 30th Anniversary gala the other night.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Row, row, row


People love to row along Lady Bird Lake and these oars are waiting for them to use.

Friday, November 24, 2017

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Monday, November 20, 2017

Pep squad


This is the Del Valle Pep Squad - always fun to watch young women having a good time and full of school spirit.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Lowrider!


This guy was having the time of his life in the Vet's Day parade.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Nice outfits


These ladies were part of the Vet's Day parade the other morning. They had on historically correct outfits.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Flags are always flying


Parades are made for flags and marching. In this group are some from the Confederacy that were kind of controversial this year.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Boycotting!


This man marching with the Girl Scouts in the parade, is for boycotting the NFL. About head injuries?

Monday, November 13, 2017

Veteran's Day Band


This is the Del Valle High Band in the local Vet's Day parade. This big guy is some type of marshal, I suppose.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Crabby, now aren't we?


Two new faves on the Fixe menu --  corn and crab fritters and crab fingers.