Our CIty Hall

It's theme day at City Daily Photo and the theme is "Municipal Building" so I shot a picture of Austin City Hall, near our condo building. The sculpture of a bird (largely from old tires?) might represent a grackle but none of those pests have a colorful head! The plaque did not reveal any details. (It said not to climb on the sculpture!) Click here to see what other city blogs presented on this theme.

Another Hotel Rises on Cesar Chavez

I believe this building at Trinity and Cesar Chavez which is getting way up there is going to be a Marriott property.

Hotel Rooms Coming

Caught the state of the Fairmount Hotel Construction on Cesar Chavez about a month ago.

Selena and the Lotteria

This mural on East Cesar Chavez was the subject of some controversy when it was painted over (with permission) by some SXSWthing last year. I remember the old Lotteria mural being faded and not surreal with the hands and if Selena was there I'd forgotten that. In any case, the mural has been recreated much to the satisfaction of the neighborhoold. As East Austin gentrifies so many great old murals are lost.

Urban Garden

This apartment dweller at the Gables Park Plaza is really making use of his balcony for gardening.

Winter Bloom

I know the bulbs are the first things to bloom, but this iris was showing on January 12, one week ago. On Cesar Chavez. Seems awfully early!

Running Man

Don't know how long this has been there but just noticed it on the walk along Cesar Chavez between Colorado and Congress.

Austin's City Hall...Really!

Jackie was on Cesar Chavez the other day when she noticed this sign on our City Hall: "Maricopa County Courthouse." Some location filming must have been taking place! We never found out what. Does anyone know?

Natural Cake

This is a cake display at Mr. Natural on E. Cesar Chavez. They also serve food and sell health foods and drink.

Pray for a Dial Tone

Walked on East Cesar Chavez yesterday. Our Lady of Guadalupe seems to be helping you with that phone call outside a convenience store.

Capitol 10K

Yesterday was the Capitol 10K. We never got closer to the festivities than this shot from our balcony. It's late in the race and Auditorium Shores is swamped with people who've finished and those on Cesar Chavez look more like walkers to me. Supposedly this race is the biggest 10K in Texas or one of the top five 10Ks in the U.S. I'm a walker myself and I don't do that in large groups. But this is great fun for many. I was reading this week how the land between us and the run will begin to be developed, perhaps starting late this year. I may have to be less lazy about taking a shot of this run in the future.

A River (of Traffic) Runs Through It

From our condo, we can only see bits of Lady Bird Lake (our Little Colorado behind the Longhorn Dam) but if you lived on the 30th floor of the Four Seasons Residences then it would stretch out west from your balcony toward the Hill Country. Also, a closer look shows that the river and the limited bridges cause a stream of traffic on arteries like Cesar Chavez (aka First Street). That's the frame for the glass balcony panels in the foreground, not a monorail track. Breaks up the view a little but unlike the W no panels have plunged to the ground!

New Shopping

There used to be an office paper depot in this store front across from the Four Seasons on Cesar Chavez. But now it's a scooter store.

Rise Up

This is a statue of Cesar Chavez on the UT campus. It's a relatively new addition.

Waiting

Someone waits in a modern bus shelter for a bus (or redemption?) in front of an old house on East Cesar Chavez.

Yes You Can!

This mural is at a used car lot on E. Cesar Chavez. I don't think Cesar was talking about owning a car but....

Big Moon

Jackie shot this a while back and I am just now running it. Shot looking east along Cesar Chavez on the night of the big moon I believe.

Iris In February

Spring is in full swing now, but this picture was taken on Cesar Chavez when the first irises were open and others in bud. The backdrop is decorative metal art work surrounding a utility box.

Hopeful Sculpture

Just east of IH35, on Cesar Chavez by the Henry Terrazas Austin Public Library Branch, this sculpture appears promoting peace and understanding. (I think...the inscription wraps around the sculpture so I got dizzy trying to read it and couldn't take a reference picture.)

Nose in a Book

The mural on the side of Domy Books reflects a perhaps doomed style of reading. The painting reminds me of my parents saying a kid had his 'nose stuck in a book.' This store is just east of IH35 on Cesar Chavez and they sell have lots of little art shows and sell unusual creative books.