There Goes the Capitol View

A rather large building is going up across from a club we belong to on Sixth Street (The Headliners). I think the Capitol Dome may disappear behind this one.

Muck Rock

I don't get the meaning of the mural nor do I know what Muck Rock is but it is very interesting. Found where East Sixth meets IH35.

Social Media

I have no idea what the guys in the green hats were selling, but these ladies from Homesnap were only too happy to pose with them.  South by Southwest is so enlightening.  There seems to be a promotion on every downtown corner. 

SXSW Traffic

You see the strangest vehicles during SXSW. While standing and waiting for a movie to begin we noticed this guy waiting in traffic. No, I don't know what it was promoting.

Rock on, SXSW!

Linda and I were standing in line to see a film at South by Southwest one day last week and saw these two guys ""hitting some licks" in the middle of East Sixth Street. They were supplanted by some street dancers after a few minutes. I took this shot with my trusty iPhone.

Easy Tiger Bread

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.

It's Hot!

The weather is getting to the scorching level now in Austin. We were walking to the east side of town on June 1 (cowering in the shadows on the south side of the street) when I noticed this scorching mural above the Tears of Joy hot sauce store on East Sixth.

SXSW Bluegrass

We were walking back from a SXSW film on East Sixth yesterday and passed this group of bluegrass musicians who had set up shop in front of a street barricade. I don't think that they were an organized band-- just some random guys who had happened to show up at one spot.

Jazz at Ruth's Chris

Linda and I took a much needed-break last night and had some wine and food with good friends at Ruth's Chris Steak House on West Sixth. Our friend Jeff Lofton with his trio was playing some terrific jazz. We were entertained all night by a constant parade of Santas-- male and female -- who were striding by the windows behind Jeff. Perhaps there was a party somewhere that required the guests to be dressed up like Santa Claus, but we never got a straight story about it. I shot this photo with my iPhone from my comfy front row chair.

Esther into the Pool

This is a nice shot our friend Jackie shot of Esther entering the pool over at Esther's Follies. We've run at least one picture of their decoration before here.

Where Have all the Hogs Gone?

We were off in New York last week, but not before we saw the 'hogs' arrive in town for the Heart of Texas bike rally. These were lined up on East Sixth Street.

Tile Mural at El Sol Y La Luna

A popular Tex-Mex restaurant (El Sol y La Luna) moved its digs from South Congress to E. Sixth. This is part of the decoration.

Sixth Street Bar Seeks Business

Seriously, the medical people think they will have a vaccine for H1N1 in October, but this Sixth Street bar is making light of it...although if you're truly worried you probably should stay out of crowded bars!

Just Hot Sauce

I guess you could call this a 'Specialty Shop!' On East Sixth for you shopping pleasure is a shop packed with salsas and sauces designed to tingle the tongue and liven up your dining. Stop by the Tears of Joy for a souvenir when you are in town.

Local Comedy

Esther's Follies is a venerable East Sixth magic and comedy club with a decidedly local spin. The troupe makes fun of politicians and pundits and has harbored many great acts over the years. Haven't been there since we moved downtown. Really must catch up soon. This is some of the trompe-l'oeil decor on the outside. Yes, Esther is a reference to Esther Williams.

Happy Hour Competition

Due to the economy I think a lot of places are trying to get Happy Hour crowds in looking for a bargain. The 'dogs welcome' is a new approach. I doubt the under 21 set is really even allowed inside (most places card the customers once at the door to avoid serving the underage folks. This bar was one of many competing on East Sixth.

House and Wall

On West Sixth and Harthan there is an interesting property with a big house with a wall and, behind it, a skinny apartment house. I got to go inside on a home tour many years ago. There was a pool behind the wall and a nice view of the skyline through glass blocks in a shower on the upper floor as I remember. Harthan Street is a two block street which got a historic district designation (not including this house). We showed it here.

Our Waterloo

Before there was an Austin there was a tiny community at the confluence of the Little Colorado and Shoal Creek called Waterloo. Hence some home-grown businesses use Waterloo in their names. At Sixth and Lamar are Waterloo Records (which kind of ripped off the logo of the London Underground which has, of course, a Waterloo Station) and one of the Waterloo Ice House locations. (These joints are places for fast food. The ice house nomenclature comes from south Texas where places that sold ice started selling beer, cold drinks, burgers. This restaurant has that sort of food. And since it's Austin, music.) I hope these two spots keep going because they are independent stores. I don't buy many CDs these days and I haven't been to Waterloo Ice House lately either. (FFP had breakfast there last week.)

Tee Shopping

We went to see "Milk" last night. (I highly recommend it, but I'm a little late with a movie review for that one.) That is relevant to this picture because this is the the T-Shirt store inside Alamo Ritz. (Downtown on Sixth.) If you are in town and want a really unusual Tee, stop in the movie lobby and shop. You can get a T-Shirt of something we shot for ADP even.

More Texas Decor

Another shot of Texas-themed decor at GSDM's Idea City. Here armadillos climb a cactus 'tree.' We showed others here.