Before the Cold

We've just had another front push out of the west and it pushed temperatures down and brought snow to northern non-Panhandle parts of Texas (but not us thank goodness). Last evening we were out briefly, ducking our heads against a bitter wind but I took this just the day before in our side yard. Azaleas aren't really suited for our soil but these have managed to bloom for quite a few years.

Sandy's Frozen Custard Forever

On Barton Springs Road near its intersection with South First and Riverside, right across from the transformed area that now includes the Long Center and the Palmer Events Center and a parking garage and a park you will find Sandy's Frozen Custard and Root Beer. Well, that's what the sign says (which is pretty cool so I put it in an inset), but they have burgers, too. I haven't eaten there in a long, long time. I have no idea how long the place has been here. As long as I've been in Austin for sure.

No Electioneering Beyond

In Texas at least (the only state where I've ever had a permanent residence and voted) the polling places in schools, libraries, retirement homes and other convenient spots have a boundary beyond which you can't place signs or approach voters to talk about your candidate. The officials put up a sign saying "no electioneering beyond this point." At our polling place yesterday this sea of signs washed up against that boundary. If you pay attention to the news, you will know that Democratic and Republican voters not only voted in a number of elections, including for delegates to national conventions for president and local ones, but attended caucuses where other delegates were committed for Dems. The most important thing you can learn from this picture, though, is that there is a candidate named 'Larry Joe.' What could be more Texas than that? You have to wonder if he was christened Lawrence Joseph or just Larry Joe.

And Get Out the Vote

That shop with all the black on South Congress had this sign up about ten days ago. [Blackmail is the name of the shop, of course, and they've provided ATDP with pictures here and here! So don't pretend you don't know the name, LB.]

Today is election day for our party primaries in Texas. We tried like some of the less massive states to move our election day so it would be more meaningful. After we were thwarted it appears that the Democrats are still very much in a horse race as we might say here if we had much horse racing.

I'm stopping this entry before it becomes wordy and self-serving like my personal blog.

Tacos on South Congress

Guero's was on SoCo before it was SoCo. When there were still mostly true junk shops on the street and the neighborhood barber and such. It predates the conversion of the San Jose Motel from a true dive to house the down and out to the ultra-sophisticated place it is now. (Liz Lambert, the owner of the San Jose, was named by Texas Monthly as someone to watch in the future.)

Guero's has a large, cavernous old building that could have been a general store back in the day. A roof over the sidewalk in front provides some outside tables (often used by people with dogs in tow). This sign is actually in the oak-shaded lot next door where they have an outdoor bar and stage for special events. And they serve all kinds of fare, not just tacos, and have several delicious homemade salsas.

The Aliens Have Landed

Not really. What has really landed in Austin is a new performance space, The Long Center for the Performing Arts. The picture was taken from the Kodosky Donors Lounge where floor to ceiling windows give you a downtown view. There is a circle outside, just beyond the plaza. The circle has embedded lights that change colors and it is raked toward the plaza. We think it is intended as a stage.

Bygone Mural

This mural used to be on North Lamar somewhere I think. Not very far north, maybe around 8th or 9th. Maybe it was by a car lot on the west side. Could be I took this in the '90's. But it once stood in Austin, that much I'm sure of. And it is no more. I'm pretty sure of that. The sentiment (and vehicles and hairdos) may seem a little dated but Austin is still a place where worlds and ideas collide, usually pleasantly. Weigh in if you remember seeing this mural in Austin. (I almost used this but decided it was too esoteric and there is an X-rated word, too.) I do want to use this blog to preserve things that are going away or gone, but I'll keep you up with current street art from time to time as well.

It is theme day. These 144 sites have vowed to post on the theme "a street mural or some graffiti in your city."

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Detroit (MI), USA by Taittems, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Jsaltao, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montréal, Canada by Douber, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiIteanu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK by Cassie & Chris, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Radonvilliers, France by Deslilas, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation by Lark, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Terre Haute (IN), USA by Zann, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Wrocław, Poland by Loompi, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn