Celebrate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.