Austin, Texas Daily Photo

Practice Smiling

2012-01-31T07:08:00.003-06:00

This old car, encountered on our downtown walks, did make me smile as its bumper strip encourages. Also note that in spite of the distressed body the tail pipes look brand new.

Quick Way to Brighten Up a House

2012-01-30T07:53:00.002-06:00

Let's face it...lots of homes in our car culture are 'garage forward' with mostly disastrous results for aesthetics. The owners of this house in North Central decided to feature the door as a canvas for a modern art painting. Or maybe they were just trying out new colors for the house!

Public Art

2012-01-29T08:25:00.002-06:00

This mural is on the side of Frank facing Fourth Street. Explanations welcome.

Easy Tiger Bread

2012-01-28T07:37:00.002-06:00

A new place has opened on E. Sixth by Waller Creek called Easy Tiger. The name confuses me because the place is a bakery with croissants and fresh pretzels and loaves and there is a beer garden downstairs serving sausage and giant pretzels with scores of draft beer (although none or not many German). But it is good and the place is bustling after only a few days open. It is brought to us by the same folks who do 24 Diner. This place isn't open 24 hours, though, only from 7AM for pastries and from 11AM-2AM for the beer garden.

Guarding Snacks

2012-01-27T07:59:00.002-06:00

We went to the Symphony Pops concert over the holidays and these troopers were out to here the music featured: that of John Williams! I'm not much of a Stars Wars fan but these visitors were causing quite a stir.

Go - gorillas - go!

2012-01-26T07:37:00.004-06:00

These two simians paused in their "run" over the Drake Bridge to pose for the cameras last Saturday. I love how having a costume on seems to free people from their inhibitions.

Two Heads are Better?

2012-01-25T09:57:00.003-06:00

This statue of a two-headed Longhorn is at County Line on the Hill a fabulous barbecue joint out on Bee Cave Road. We don't have an explanation, dear readers, do you?

Luminarium

2012-01-24T07:29:00.004-06:00

Jackie shot a picture of what looks like a group of kids' bouncy castles but was really an installation that visitors walked through to see the play of natural light coming through various colored panels. None of your reporters saw it. There were long lines (see picture) and it sold out every day it visited the lawn at the Long Center. The group is called "Architects of Air." Reader Billy P. posted some inside shots on facebook.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo at ACL Live

2012-01-23T08:00:00.005-06:00

Saturday Jackie saw the Ladysmith Black Mambazo performance at ACL Live and reports:

We had seen the male chorus from South Africa before, back in the ‘80s, when Paul Simon’s Graceland brought them global popularity. Their close harmony is magical and they spice it up with Zulu dancing. The group has been singing for 52 years; the founder, Joseph Shaalala is now 70. Last night he introduced his youngest son, Thamsanga, who will take over when Joseph has to retire. (But Joseph seemed quite capable.) They “travel the world spreading the message of peace, love and harmony.” They also sang an exhortation for “rain, rain. rain,” which the local crowd really appreciated.

Mama and baby get warm and fuzzy

2012-01-22T01:05:00.001-06:00

Austin's insatiable appetite for runs/walks/trots on weekend mornings must be satisfied! This Saturday we had a Gorilla Run for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. Here is a mama simian with her offspring.

Cypress Tree

2012-01-21T01:00:00.003-06:00

This cypress tree on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake is gigantic. Right now, with leaves off other trees, it's very dynamic.

Not Your Grandmother's Chicken

2012-01-20T07:48:00.001-06:00

I think I read somewhere that the owner of this chicken place on South Congress named it after his grandmother. Surely not or, if so, she didn't model for this neon! It's a great sign but we haven't tried the food yet.

Old Bird

2012-01-19T07:23:00.002-06:00

Spotted this vintage car just off South Lamar the other day. Enjoyed the juxtaposition with the wall of that business with the black checkerboard and red door.

B.B. King

2012-01-18T01:00:00.002-06:00

Back in October, I think, Jackie caught B.B. King at the ACL Moody Theater. I saw B.B. King live long ago at Antone's (when it was on Sixth Street) and at Armadillo World Headquarters. A venerable guy, but sitting down these days!

Architectural Style

2012-01-17T01:00:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure how to classify the style of this house just off South Lamar. Note particularly the checkerboard roof.

Row, row, row

2012-01-16T08:01:00.004-06:00

I was walking over the ped bridge on Lady Bird Lake Saturday morning and took this photo with my iPhone. It was balmy and bright. Bodes badly for the summer which may be more of a scorcher than last year, some are saying.

Mental rhythms

2012-01-15T04:27:00.004-06:00

We attended a gallery opening last night at Women & Their Work for our friend Laurie Frick's work. Her art reflects the patterns of everyday existence. These two ladies are taking a look at one of her intricate pieces.

Bottle Tree

2012-01-14T08:01:00.000-06:00

Detail of yard art in North Central Austin.

Cormorants Enjoying Their Winter Home

2012-01-13T07:45:00.003-06:00

Jackie shot this last Sunday. The cormorants winter home may be a little chillier this weekend as we had a cold front arrive last night.

Skyline?

2012-01-12T01:00:00.002-06:00

Jackie captured the Austin City Limits backdrop while waiting for a lecture in the ACL Moody Theater. We've shown lots of real skyline pictures here but the perspective of this one would be impossible to achieve. Pretty, though, isn't it?

Formula One At the Movies

2012-01-11T00:09:00.004-06:00

This Formula One car was at the Violet Crown Theater when the documentary "Senna" was showing. How'd it get up there on the balcony? Shot by Jackie. There will be a Formula One event in the area in November although the preparations have been a bit up and down.

A woman and her work

2012-01-10T11:59:00.004-06:00

Here you see our friend Laurie Frick and one of her magnificent pieces of artwork. I shot this in her studio not long ago while interviewing her for my newspaper column. She'll be starting a show at Women & Their Work this Saturday.

Great Blue Heron

2012-01-09T08:27:00.002-06:00

Jackie caught this wonderful shot on her perambulation around the lake yesterday. She believes it is the Great Blue Heron. She says that

he was fishing near the trail. I tried to snap him flipping a small fish into his mouth, but didn’t get a good shot. The field guide says this species is the largest heron normally found in Texas at 4’ tall.

Zip up Your Curb Appeal

2012-01-08T07:27:00.002-06:00

Just when you think you've seen every way to make your little cottage look a little different someone comes up with a way to use two colors in a new way. Kudos. This home is in a rather obscure little area near the Triangle in North Central.

Bowling?

2012-01-07T01:00:00.002-06:00

We stopped into Dart Bowl on a winter afternoon. There were some people bowling but I liked this photo where the lanes were clear.

I Lost My Head

2012-01-06T08:56:00.001-06:00

Look up when visiting Uncommon Objects on SoCo and you might find some taxidermy you can get without killing anything.

After the Celebration

2012-01-05T07:40:00.003-06:00

On our New Year's Day walk we saw this abandoned fancy shoe near Sixth and Lamar. I'm fascinated by the shoes (and, this time of year, gloves) that end up abandoned.

Facing the New Year

2012-01-04T08:40:00.002-06:00

Your main correspondents (FFP and LB) cast long shadows on the latest graffiti on the Lamar underpass. Words to live by.

Minor Mishaps Celebrate the New Year

2012-01-03T07:36:00.003-06:00

We took a walk on New Year's Day. We were thinking of going to Book People but it's less than a mile away so we went across the lake to Auditorium Shores and back across the Pfluger bridge to stretch our legs. Back on the north shore we encountered the Minor Mishaps Marching Band out to help people celebrate 2012. New Year has been without mishap so far for us. If we (or you) encounter mishaps this year I hope they are minor.

Young Bluesmen

2012-01-02T07:56:00.006-06:00

Jackie submitted this photo from her night out New Year's Eve with this note:

We spent the early part of our New Years Eve at Maria Maria where the Peterson Brothers Band from Bastrop was playing. We made a special point of checking them out and weren’t disappointed. Glenn, the guitar phenom, is 15 years old; his 12-year-old brother, Alex, plays bass (and also played the violin on one number, while Glenn backed him up on bass). So many of the old blues musicians died in 2011, including Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, who had planned to record with the Peterson Brothers in 2012. But listening to these talented young men gives us hope that the blues tradition will carry on.

Here’s to a upbeat 2012….

Jackie

Maria Maria is a club and restaurant on Colorado where good music and Mexican food are inspired by Carlos Santana. They have several locations in California as well.

Picture of the Year

2012-01-01T01:00:00.000-06:00

It's theme day at City Daily Photo. We reviewed the year's pictures in a rather casual way and considered a few others but this one just called out to us. Here's the original post.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Celebrate

2011-12-31T01:00:00.000-06:00

The ceiling at Threadgill's (South Location) is festive. So I'm presenting it and wishing you a Happy New Year. Have good safe fun tonight.

Natural Planter

2011-12-30T08:10:00.002-06:00

In Hyde Park we encountered a large old stump that had been hollowed out to form a planter for cacti. FFP took this shot with his iPhone.

Put a Fork in Them...They're Done

2011-12-29T01:00:00.000-06:00

The Hyde Park Bar and Grill on Duval has a 'fork in the road.' There's always something interesting on its tines. At the moment it's the horns from a Longhorn. (Also the fork has been knit-bombed.) Last night the University of Texas Longhorns football team played the last game of their season at the Holiday Bowl and won. Season done.

A Little More Christmas

2011-12-28T08:23:00.002-06:00

Let's hold that spirit a little more! Last Friday a brass quintet played Christmas carols at the Headliners club in front of the 'flower tree' with the Frost Bank tower looming behind. The company, the Bloody Marys and the buffet were all extra fine.

Not on My Bucket List

2011-12-27T08:07:00.002-06:00

Riding with other drinkers on an open pedal car is not something I aspire to do. See this around downtown all the time, however. The person braking and steering is, presumably, sober. Is this officially a bike? A pedicab. The people bellying up to the bar can get exercise and help propel the thing but...really! This sighting was on W. Sixth.

Lady Bird Lake Firefighting

2011-12-26T08:19:00.004-06:00

We saw smoke on Lady Bird Lake yesterday but couldn't figure out what was on fire. It looked like the lake itself. Turns out there were two separate boat fires at a marina near the Hyatt. Our faithful correspondent Jackie had a good view from her apartment and submitted some great pictures. I chose this one to show the firefighters using the Congress Avenue bridge as a perch to fight the fires.

Hoping Santa Was Kind

2011-12-25T07:44:00.004-06:00

This picture was taken in Austin about six decades ago. Here's hoping that whatever elf or spirit you believe in has been kind to you this season and that you have a lovely Christmas morning if that's your tradition and take good cheer into the New Year.

Jolly Old Elf

2011-12-24T09:22:00.003-06:00

FFP at the annual Headliner's Member Christmas Party, with Santa. He should look more jolly. FFP that is. But I'm the one who had a couple of Bloody Marys. Santa looks a bit oblivious. It's a rainy Christmas Eve here in Austin. I can honestly say I'm glad it isn't snow.

A Dress You Need Not Wrap

2011-12-23T09:13:00.003-06:00

This display in a Second Street dress shop appears to be a 'dress' fashioned from gift wrap and ribbon. Very festive!

Soldiers in the Wings

2011-12-22T07:49:00.004-06:00

FFP was backstage again last night at Ballet Austin's "The Nutcracker." The soldiers will need some help before they defeat the Rat King, though. We will see a performance from the orchestra level in Dell Hall at the Long Center tonight. And then I'll really be in the holiday spirit.

Armadillo Christmas

2011-12-21T08:47:00.003-06:00

Decades ago there was a venue called the Armadillo World Headquarters. The location is now an office building but the venue lives on in our minds and in the Threadgill's restaurants AND at the annual Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. Originally the event was at the music venue and combined shopping for unique presents with music. When the venue was gone, the bazaar continued in various locations and has settled for the last couple of years at the Palmer Events Center. We went last night to hear Bill Kirchen and Marcia Ball play hits from back in the day and amusing bluesy, rock and roll and country influenced Christmas tunes. Fabulous. The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is a great place to finish your shopping, too, because they are open until 11PM right up through Christmas Eve.

Last Minute Shopping

2011-12-20T07:28:00.003-06:00

The shops on West Sixth Street (west of Lamar) provide a place to pick up a perfect last minute gift or just to make a portrait of yourself in the glass. Seriously, if you grab a place to park around here there are several unique shops selling goofy things or 'edition of one' art pieces. Plus you can grab some lunch at Z'Tejas and pick up something to spice your eggnog at Wiggy's. All while avoiding the malls.

Angel Wrangler

2011-12-19T01:00:00.005-06:00

Some of the smallest performers in "The Nutcracker" are these little angels. A wrangler prepares them for their entrance at Ballet Austin's production Saturday night. FFP took this photo backstage with his iPhone. I love it! Performances continue Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week. This has become one of my favorite traditions of the season. Our tix are for Thursday but FFP has been doing a little wrangling of his own meeting with some of the VIPs riding the large comic Mother Ginger skirt.

Southwest Christmas

2011-12-18T01:00:00.003-06:00

Sometimes our climate does a good imitation of the desert Southwest. The plantings in this Old West Austin yard reflect that. Add some Christmas balls and voilá: holiday in the desert. Thankfully some good rain the last few days might have broken our drought a bit.

It's Beginning to Look Festive

2011-12-17T07:33:00.002-06:00

We haven't done anything to decorate unless you count having holiday cards people have sent sitting around. Oh, and one lone bendable Santa figure left over from when I did decorate for the season three years ago. But we are dressing in a festive fashion for parties and I caught FFP in the lobby of the office building for last night's event with a dual tree.

Crafts and Food

2011-12-16T09:18:00.002-06:00

Note that the restaurant in this picture, Los Huaraches, has a picture of a guy with giant feet and sandals. That's apparently a joke because there is a Mexican dish called huarache because it is roughly shaped like a sandal (which is huarache in Spanish). Also note the word 'manualidades' under Julia's Crafts. Multilingual areas are great places to learn a few things about words and word origins.

Try This Combo

2011-12-15T09:35:00.001-06:00

This home in our old neighborhood has a nice example of using purple and yellow trim. I like it. You?

Fancy Dress for the Season

2011-12-14T08:20:00.003-06:00

The Julian Gold store on West Sixth provides a nice reflection portrait. I'm not so fashion-forward myself but if you are....

Porch Message

2011-12-13T01:00:00.002-06:00

Is someone in the family a Special Forces guy they hope will come home and wear those boots again? Or is it a more random message or a memorial?

Stuff on the Front Porch

2011-12-12T01:00:00.002-06:00

The stuff on your front porch says a lot about you, but sometimes I don't get the message. Maybe they were planning a little porch sale?

Blue Entry

2011-12-11T01:00:00.001-06:00

This is the entryway to the house (studio) with the blue steps.

Blue Steps

2011-12-10T01:00:00.000-06:00

When we were walking around on the East Austin Studio Tour this studio made good use of blue outside.

Driskill in Gingerbread

2011-12-09T01:00:00.000-06:00

This is the gingerbread Driskill for the holiday season.

Historic Ceiling

2011-12-08T01:00:00.003-06:00

This is the ceiling of the historic Driskill hotel lobby.

Happy Birthday, Driskill, at Christmas

2011-12-07T01:00:00.002-06:00

As mentioned earlier the Driskill Hotel is having it's 125th Birthday this Christmas season. Last Thursday they served this cake which looks like a pile of presents.

Uncommon Objects

2011-12-06T01:00:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite shops is the antique and junk mall on South Congress called Uncommon Objects. You can find most unusual Christmas presents here.

Time to Dress as Santa

2011-12-05T01:00:00.004-06:00

Lucy in Disguise, the costume shop on South Congress, has a window display up for Christmas. I'm guessing if you want to dress as the jolly elf this season they can help you.

New Mural for the Books

2011-12-04T01:00:00.002-06:00

This wall on South Congress used to be repainted frequently with murals...sometimes just ads and sometimes seeming to promote the art glass shop in that building. Now that South Congress Books occupies the building this mural showed up. I can't tell if it is finished or in progress. We frequently shop here so we'll find out.

Tattooed Truck

2011-12-03T01:00:00.002-06:00

There is a tattoo parlor on South First and their truck is decorated to show their craft.

Snow!

2011-12-02T07:53:00.004-06:00

Actually yesterday was cloudy with temps near 70 Fahrenheit. But the historic Driskill Hotel is celebrating its 125th Anniversary with a variety of activities and last night for the tree lighting they blew in a bunch of snow on Brazos. It was melting quite fast when I shot this picture of FFP. Today it is raining and close to 60. We need the real precipitation so we aren't complaining.

Action Shot...Where's the Beef?

2011-12-01T07:59:00.005-06:00

It's the first of the month and on City Daily Photo that means theme day. This month's theme is 'action shot.' I decided to show you these two people running in the Thanksgiving Day Schlotzsky's Turkey Trot because it's Texas and if you are a serious runner (as these two in the foreground seem to be) you will be powered by beef! Think their team must be the Beef Council or something. (Yes, in Texas there is a Beef Council.)

Many City Daily Photo blogs will participate in the first of the month theme day. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Paint and Flower Match

2011-11-30T09:28:00.002-06:00

Recent rains revived some blooming things. This house on the east side has a nice match between blooms and trim.

Vintage Christmas

2011-11-29T01:00:00.004-06:00

Want some Christmas decor that looks vintage, like you inherited it from your grandparents? Shop Uncommon Objects on SoCo. Just about anything else sufficiently old and odd can be yours this great institution as well. Happy Christmas shopping and keep it weird.

Sweet Graffiti

2011-11-28T09:01:00.002-06:00

Graffiti never lasts long on the Lamar railroad overpass but maybe the sentiments here won't be so quickly painted over. Robot love? But the arms look so much like tentacles.

Curb Appeal---How About These Colors?

2011-11-27T00:06:00.002-06:00

I probably wouldn't have chosen these colors but they don't look too bad, do they? Shot on the east side when we rambled over there last Sunday.

Fall Roses

2011-11-26T08:16:00.005-06:00

Little garden plots on the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge are tended by civic-minded companies or people. These roses were opening up on a beautiful Thanksgiving day. Today it is raining and we are very thankful for that.

Turkey Hot Dog

2011-11-25T01:00:00.002-06:00

At first I didn't get it but then I realized it was a turkey hot dog costume. Dog was patient with his owners and the costume but barked convincingly at us.

Ready to Trot

2011-11-24T11:57:00.001-06:00

One of the biggest 'fun runs' (and walks and kid's K) of the year is the Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot. Thanksgiving icons ready to trot this morning.

Curb Appeal---Ready for Anything

2011-11-23T09:45:00.004-06:00

This house appears ready for the holidays. Perhaps any holidays.

It Actually Rained

2011-11-22T14:26:00.002-06:00

Overnight we had some rain as the wet pavement on the parking garage attests. FFP took this picture while there were still some clouds at dawn.

Curb Appeal Series

2011-11-21T08:08:00.002-06:00

I love when people select interesting colors and paint their exteriors. If one had a home and wanted to see how certain combos would look if you painted the house and trim that way they could just scout around and check it out. This one is in Clarksville. I'm a big fan of yellow. The peach-colored door, though, is an interesting choice but seems to work.

Lone Star

2011-11-20T01:00:00.001-06:00

The Lone Star flies over the Texas State Cemetery on a cloudy day. This is an interesting place to walk on the east side.

An Honest Profession

2011-11-19T01:00:00.000-06:00

I took this picture of a mural on the east side the other day. I find it intriguing.

End of an era

2011-11-18T12:31:00.004-06:00

My 91-year-old mother died in front of my eyes Wednesday. She had been fussing to us about “feeling rough” and she decided that the problem was the street construction in front of her house exciting her allergies.

Her remedy for that was to ask me to come get her and take her for a drive so she wouldn’t have to listen to the thumping and grinding of the machinery for a while. When I arrived at her home, she said that LifeLine had called and said that their unit wasn’t getting any power. So I got on the phone with them, with my back turned to my mother, who was sitting on the side of her bed.

When I hung up from that conversation, I turned around and in that instant, she went unconscious and fell off the bed and onto the floor. No response. I called EMS and they had a truck there in about three or four minutes. Amazing. They managed to get her heart restarted, but when we got her to the hospital, it was obvious it was hopeless and she expired after about an hour. Honestly, I think that she had subconsciously willed herself to last until I arrived to have the attack. (If that is possible, believe me, she would have done it.)

She lived a long life, the way she wanted it. This photo is of my parents either on a date or shortly after they got married—I always marveled at how well turned out they both were in shots like this one—dad in a tie and hat and mother all spiffy. She and my dad were unusual in this world of constant change: married for 72 years and in the same house for 70 years. My dad died this January.

Rest in peace.

Fragmented Faces

2011-11-17T07:55:00.003-06:00

Murals dresses up a wall on the east side.

High Rise Living

2011-11-16T06:56:00.003-06:00

I was visiting a friend in the Milago Condos on Rainey Street the other day and whipped out my camera to get a picture of the view from there but Dixie and Frieda caught my eye, relaxing, their work put aside for the moment.

E.A.S.T. with one of our Favorites: Jennifer Balkan

2011-11-15T07:52:00.005-06:00

Last weekend (and next, too) there is a massive art tour of studios called East Austin Studio Tour (E.A.S.T.). Sunday we went to a few spots in an area of east Austin called French Place. Jennifer Balkan poses here with one of her paintings. She's one of our favorites and has appeared in these pages and couple of other times: here and here. She had a show in a gallery in our neighborhood, too, in 2008.

Jazz Al Fresco

2011-11-14T07:10:00.005-06:00

We attended a fundraiser for the Pease Park Conservancy a couple of weeks ago and heard music from the Ephraim Owens Quartet, which provided a sweet background for the festivities. The guys were playing outdoors on the grounds of the hosts' house, which overlooks the park. The night was chilly, so they had to bundle up.

East Side Model Home

2011-11-13T07:28:00.005-06:00

Spotted this in a yard on Rosewood on the east side. What at first looks like a derelict old home is actually a scale model, sitting outside on a table outside heaped with twigs. This weekend (and next) the entire east side is filled with open art galleries exhibiting their wares in the E.A.S.T (East Austin Studio Tour) but I snapped this on an ordinary day, one of those when life itself seems to be art.

Fireman's Color Guard

2011-11-12T01:00:00.002-06:00

We watched the entire Austin Veteran's Day parade yesterday. Lots of vehicles and people but I offer this picture of a color guard of firemen because I love that they carry ceremonial axes.

Sadly, It's Closed

2011-11-11T08:06:00.003-06:00

OK, I know they weren't selling souls but maybe soul food. Still.

Whimsical Decoration

2011-11-10T01:00:00.002-06:00

The decoration on this house on Palma in Clarksville is full of color and whimsy.

Vintage Car

2011-11-09T01:00:00.001-06:00

Walking on Palma over in Clarksville we encountered this beauty. A lemon in its time but coolness now.

Lion's Labor

2011-11-08T07:44:00.003-06:00

This mural is on the side of a bar on the east side. I don't really have an explanation.

Some Tree Support

2011-11-07T07:08:00.002-06:00

Over in Old West Austin there is a tree that is had to get a little support for one of its branches. It is usually live oaks that get these rangy branches they can't support that require props. This one, however, appeared to be some other sort of oak.

Transportation to Fun Fun Fun Fest

2011-11-06T01:00:00.001-05:00

We didn't go to Fun Fun Fun Fest but we did walk by. So many people arrived by bike that the racks provided were exhausted and bikes were also chained all along the Drake Ped bridge. This is a view of the sea of bikes attached to racks near Auditorium Shores.

Holiday Confustion

2011-11-05T07:39:00.002-05:00

In order to take advantage of the maximum selling period for holiday stuff, merchants push the holidays back until they collide with one another. Halloween is a pretty big deal here and we often take a four-day weekend for Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November. But Christmas is the money machine and can overwhelm these other celebrations. We tried to represent this in our entry in a pumpkin-carving contest last Sunday...showing a variety of gourd with some southern girth as a demented Santa Claus. Well...we thought it was funny. But we didn't win a prize! It was a great party, though.

The 99%

2011-11-04T07:31:00.002-05:00

The owner might be a part of Occupy Austin. (Our home is near the encampment and there is that 99% sticker.) But old Beetles like this are sort of rare these days. Confession: I had several decades ago that were even older!

A Puzzle on the East Side

2011-11-03T07:49:00.002-05:00

We were walking on the east side the other day enjoying beautiful weather and some Day of the Dead shrines in people's yards when I noticed this car port. There were neckties tied to bars on both sides of it. I wonder why? It wasn't a yard sale but more of a permanent installation.

And Yesterday was Day of the Dead

2011-11-02T07:43:00.003-05:00

Sure we celebrate Halloween on October 31. (Or when it's on a Monday like it was this year we celebrate it on Saturday, Sunday AND Monday.) But November 1 is All Saint's Day and November 2 is All Soul's Day and for some folks and for our Mexican neighbors the Day of the Dead is celebrated. Shrines are erected to relatives and friends who are gone. This simple outdoor one was at the Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center when we walked on the eastern part of the hike and bike trail yesterday. Here is a picture from four years ago at Fonda San Miguel of their shrine.

Theme Days...Fences

2011-11-01T01:00:00.001-05:00

Today is theme day at City Daily Photo. The theme is fences. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Morning Glory and Death

2011-10-31T01:00:00.001-05:00

Thought the duality of this cow would be a good Halloween picture.

That Time of Year

2011-10-30T09:33:00.001-05:00

Yeah, it's that time of year when you might find a monster riding shotgun. The driver was either in Starbucks or OfficeMax.

Dry docked

2011-10-29T11:05:00.002-05:00

To contrast with all the photos we have posted of boats in Town Lake, here's one of a vessel we recently passed on a walk. Looks like it hasn't seen its natural element in a while.

Co-op Transportation

2011-10-28T01:00:00.001-05:00

This co-op housing in Judge's Hill shows a lot of the official co-op dwellers' transportation: bikes.

Ready for Halloween

2011-10-27T01:00:00.003-05:00

This business in this little house on South Lamar looks tailor-made for Halloween. Do you think they will repaint red and green for Christmas?

Peter Pan Mini Golf

2011-10-26T01:00:00.002-05:00

Peter looms over the Peter Pan Mini Golf on Barton Springs Road unaware of the threat entering stage right. He seems proud of his crocheted 'bra' for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Mural at Threadgill's

2011-10-25T01:00:00.002-05:00

Threadgill's South Location has this mural, picturing both the old Armadillo World Headquarters (which was nearby) and the original Threadgill's (in an old gas station on North Lamar...which is now Threadgill's North). The man on Texas is the late Kenneth Threadgill, namesake.

Armadillo Cow

2011-10-24T01:00:00.002-05:00

I know we are all tired of plastic cows. But this is too funny. Armadillo Cow. Actually labeled 'Armoodillo Cow!"