New Art at Food Trailer Park

The food trailer complex that houses Torchy's on South First has some new art work on its permanent structure. Here's a portion of the gilded collage around the door. Interesting.

Visiting at the San Jose

These lovely ladies asked us to take their photo outside the Hotel San Jose. We were only to glad to do so. We told them that we would post the photo-- maybe they will see it. One of the ladies was from San Francisco and the other was visiting from Dallas.

Grand Staircase

Jackie shot this picture of the staircase entrance to the Austin City Limits venue. You can see the W logo and the AMLI apartments across the street. If you live in the area, come down to Second Street today starting at 3PM for a free celebration of our new neighbor.

A New Venue

Some of you who have never visited Austin, Texas have seen a program on public television called "Austin City Limits." Their venue was a studio in the communications building at UT. But a new home for this show (and other performances) just opened in the structure housing the W hotel and residences. The Theater is called Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater. Our friend Jackie took this photo during the Gipsy Kings performance Wednesday. Last night was a grand opening party. We haven't been to the venue yet and it will probably be a while because we didn't pull the trigger on shows and they are all just about sold out for months. We'll definitely be enjoying this venue, though. It's three blocks from us.

Mixing it up

A great new bar/restaurant called Haddington's has opened about two blocks from us. They had a media opening last night (though the place has been jam packed since they started). Here you see the bartender Bill preparing one of his tasty drinks. Between the two of us, we have been there three times and have enjoyed ourselves quite a bit.

Orange Sunset

The Monarch Apartments have lots of colored light choices for their butterfly. The other night at sunset it was orange. This was taken from the patio at Aquarelle. The brown building in the foreground is Austin City Lofts.

The Rails

A railroad spur used to come down Third Street to the Warehouse district. There was a depot or warehouse at one time where the Ballet Austin Butler Dance Education Center is now located because while renovating that building a several feet deep pad of concrete was found which obviously supported heavy train cars. The abandoned rails poke up in the streets (look at Fourth and San Antonio for example) and the loading docks on Fourth show that this was once a place for the transit of goods. Just west of our building, spanning Shoal Creek, is the abandoned railroad bridge, pointing the way to our modern downtown.

Sunday Crepes

Ahhh. . .a perfect start to a Sunday. Breakfast at our favorite crepes cafe just a few blocks' walk from our home, the NY Times Crossword, and the companionship of my wife. Here you see the vegetarian crepe--my favorite.

Another sunny Sunday shot

I shot this photo a few Sundays ago during a walk around the lake. A sunny afternoon makes people's thoughts turn towards getting out and relaxing.

Blind Corner

Near our condo the hike and bike trail has some stairs and a bike switchback converging. This mirror (reflecting some of the new trail improvements and on to West Avenue) is meant to avoid collisions.

Grackles Invasion

We were sitting on the patio at Aquarelle (on San Antonio just north of W. Sixth) and the grackles had decided to do some raucous evening foraging in the neighborhood. The tree and power lines packed with birds have the Frost Bank and Chase building in the background.

Shoring it up

Linda and I were walking home from a stroll along the lake Sunday and I noticed this retaining grid along Shoal Creek. It has been installed to prevent erosion into the creek. I zoomed in on it and got this visual.

A Sunny Austin Sunday Afternoon

Linda and I went for a walk along the lake on Sunday. On the way back to our place, I caught this shot of a couple having a quiet moment in the warm sun. It was a very pleasant day.

A lady and her bass

We ventured out on a cold night a couple of weeks ago to hear our friend Liz sing at the Driskill Hotel bar. The only instrument accompanying her was this stellar bass player. I caught this shot of her crooning with my iPhone.

Bird Watching

Yesterday's afternoon temperatures were in the '70's. We took a walk on part of the hike and bike trail of Lady Bird Lake. If there was a park in America entertaining more hikers, runners, rowers, bikers, dogs, kids in strollers, dogs in strollers, etc. I'd be surprised. But on the part of the trail by Shoal Creek leading to the lake this heron stood stock still, surveying his domain. Think it might be the yellow-crowned night heron. See here.

Broccoflower?

The weather turned warmer and the Farmer's Market near our home was up and running at full speed Saturday morning. This lady is admiring some unusal plants which are a hybrid of broccoli and cauliflower. Another lady told me that she likes to steam them and then cover them with olive oil and lemon juice. Sounds tasty.

Costume Party

Thursday we went to a costume party. Our friends at Fonda San Miguel restaurant closed the place and offered up a party for a lot of friends. They indicated that festive Mexican garb or masks would be appropriate. That's FFP in a Lucha Libre mask and a friend posing for my iPhone.

Another Shot of Collectible

Yep, you can find almost anything on South Congress.

Uncommonly Elvis

Go collectible shopping on South Congress and these prizes can be yours.

Have a Heart

The big heart day is coming. However, it wasn't Valentine's Day (Monday) that had us shopping SoCo yesterday. Nope. It was the prospect of a party Thursday. The invitation mentioned Mexican garb. And masks. At Tesoros Trading (window pictured) they not only had folk art hearts from many countries but...Lucha Libre masks which completed the costumes we had in mind. We also got some accessories at Lucy in Disguise. I think at the party all the wrestling we'll do will be is in food and drink lines because the only other customers on an early Tuesday afternoon at Lucy in Disguise were renting mariachi wear and sombreros.

One more snow photo

Talk about dedication -- this jogger had the trail pretty much to herself on Friday. I took this photo from our exercise room on the tenth floor.

Snow on the old power plant

I took this photo of the now-decommissioned Seaholm Power Plant from our 10th floor exercise room window on Friday. Someday soon this old plant, which used to provide a great deal of the electricity for Austin, will be an area boasting a hotel, shopping, and offices. The vegetation on the right is on our pool deck.

G'Day!

Friday morning, Linda and I watched as a young man created this masterpiece with his feet on the top level of the parking garage across the street. Linda took this shot from our office window in our condo.

Whee! Snow day fun!

I shot this photo from the exercise room in our high-rise, looking south across Ladybird Lake to Doug Sahm Hill. Several hardy families had ventured out to enjoy sledding in makeshift rigs. Downtown was not exactly a beehive of activity yesterday.

What Passes for Winter

There was a bit of ice and a bit of snow. It is a week day and downtown looks a little deserted. Apologies for not stepping outside the apartment for a better picture. Our heater is very efficient and doesn't have to run constantly to keep it at 70 degrees. But opening the door to the low twenties temps doesn't help matters. It is supposed to get above freezing later today. Hopefully it will because I'm sure Austin's supply of sand for flyovers and overpasses is quickly running out! If predictions are correct it may get warmer before the next front but I don't know if it will be tank tops and flip flops again soon.

A Girl and Her Dog

Yes, you guessed it...this little dog and her beautiful owner were enjoying Sunday's fine weather. Well...at least the temperature is over 20 F today. Still...looking back at Sunday wistfully. Forrest shot this picture. The dog's face looks like one of our departed dogs.

Sunday Workout

Lots of exercise gets done on Auditorium Shores on a sunny Sunday (just three days ago). They have some bars and benches and the guys find many variations on exercising on them. Who needs a gym? (Well maybe they do today. It's 18 degrees outside.)

A Fine Winter Day

Yep. This picture was taken Sunday. It looks like January in another hemisphere. But, no, it was Austin. And just last Sunday. This pool and fountain beside Lady Bird Lake at Auditorium Shores attracted this couple and its share of birds and a bird dog (it's an off leash area) to chase them. Today is the first of the month and theme day on City Daily Photo. The theme is fountains and so we've used the spraying water as the foreground for this couple. Before you move here...it just rained over night, winds of 50 MPH and above and now the temperature is 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.