Rediscovering Austin

Extra Extra

Ever wonder what it was like to be an extra in a TV show or film? Boring, really. It starts off with everyone in a cattle tent and no idea what is going on. Then you get moved to the location (eventually) and they shout things at you that you generally can't hear, and you might actually get food and stuff. Then you go home. Oh, and you get to pretend that it is a hot August night when it is really something closer to 40 degrees outside with a coooooooold breeze. On the other hand, I get to say that I was in the pilot for a TV show (if it airs). This is the second something like this I've done since moving to Austin years ago, and I think I'll do it again in the future, provided the weather is good. And next time, I'll bring a snack and water. Oy. :D

Go 'Horns

Ok, attempt number 2 at posting this... Darn Typepad.

So, I've been quiet on the photo front for a while, but lately something happened that I simply HAD to go out and take my good camera to capture. What, you ask? As a UT alumna, I should be mortally offended that you asked that question, but instead, I'll just share my glee.... Go 'Horns!

Where I've Been

Well, I've been just a hint quiet lately, because I was on vacation. Took my first cruise ever, to be exact --- and thanks to Hurricane Rita, my 7-night cruise turned into a 10-night cruise since we couldn't get back to Galveston on time.

This picture was taken on (I believe) our last night at sea, in the Gulf of Mexico, with sunset at approximately 6:30 pm CDT. It was taken with the automatic settings of the E300 before I started playing with the sunset mode. Everytime I look at these pictures I find it hard to believe the horrendous forces of the hurricane that swept through only a couple days before.

I still miss the dragon

Several months ago, instead of the sign for this shop, there was a giant dragon head sticking out of the corner of the building. Sadly, rents went up in this stretch of SoCo and Dragonsnaps had to relocate. However, Mi Casa took up the challenge of keeping the storefronts unique, and added this fabulous mural to the building. Unfortunately I could not find information on the artist of this mural, but it actually spans both sides of this corner lot.

Sorry, We're Open

This is the sign for Magnolia Cafe on SoCo, home of the best Hibiscus Mint tea in Austin. Well, servers of the best, anyway -- I believe they use the same tea brand as Texas French Bread. :D Magnolia features an Austin-eclectic menu, much of the same sort of foods as Kerbey Lane (albeit each with their own individual flair). As a matter of fact, I really couldn't tell you which of the two restaurants I prefer over the other - Magnolia just has the benefit of being closest to the local yarn shop at which I teach classes. For decor/ambience - 4 out of 5 stars. For food and price - 5 out of 5 stars.

Flower for your thoughts...

Among the unique signs on SoCo stands this one for a gift shop called Prima Dora. With everything from books to cards to shoes to mattresses, it is sure that you will find the odd little gift here for even your most hard-to-shop-for friend. Their parking lot also serves as a staging area for several First Thursday merchants on, of course, the first Thursday of every month.

By the by, in case you couldn't tell, that tulip is over 10 feet tall.

Feeling a little peckish

If you're looking for a good burger, Fran's is an excellent place to stop. Once owned by Fran and Dan (of Dan's Hamburgers, natch), it is now just Fran's - and the happy carhop is more than willing to help out.

Urban cowboy

Well, it's actually the sign decoration for uncommon OBJECTS (for some reason I wanted to type Urban Outfitters, but they're not cool or local enough to have a store on SoCo). This place is a mix of a garage sale, antique store, and flea market gone wild. If you're looking for unusual decorations or housewares, I highly recommend you stop in here. If you're looking for that one 1952 Royal Crown bottlecap to fill out your collection, you may find it here as well -- but I warn you, you'll have to spend a lot of time browsing through the 18 different vendors' items.

It's a bird, it's a plane! No, it's a...zebra?!?

This fancy lady sits atop the intersection of two stores on SoCo - Electric Ladyland and Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds. (Actually, it is just one store...although I can vouch for two storefronts, I have only ever visited the latter). I believe the former is vintage clothing, while LDD is mainly given over to costumes of all sorts, mainly vintage and certainly wild. Since it has been so long since my last trip into the store (which was at least a decade ago, when I was in college) I cannot vouch for the separate-ness of the two any longer. However, it is still a fun place to wlak by, and perhaps this Hallowe'en I may even venture forth once more into the store labeled Austin's Favorite Vintage Clothing/Costumes by the readers of the Austin Chronicle.

At any rate, the Carmen Miranda-esque zebra perched atop the building draws your eyes to the stores from quite a distance away. Perhaps it is this fantastic creation that has inspired the heights of oddity in the local decorations.

Signs of South Congress

This is the first in a series of photos showing off the understated beauty of the shops on South Congress. These shops are all in buildings with historical significance to the city, and each one tries to outdo its neighbors with creative signage.