And so Austin bids a fond farewell to summer 2015…
Goodbye, Summer
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Author Archives: janis
Austin Pride Parade: 2015
The annual Austin Pride Parade wound through downtown on Saturday evening. Parade-goers had plenty to celebrate, with this summer’s Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage as well as Austin Pride’s 25th anniversary. The theme was appropriately titled Austin Pride 25: Celebrating 25 Years Of PRIDE In Austin.
Austin Arts Block Party
The Long Center was the place to be for last Sunday’s Austin Arts Block Party. Representatives from local arts organizations, theaters, and museums were on hand to promote their upcoming seasons and exhibits, answer questions, and take ticket orders. Mayor Steve Adler even made a brief appearance to read a city proclamation honoring the day.
Gem and Jewelry Show
With afternoon temperatures hovering around 100°, the International Gem & Jewelry Show at the Palmer Events Center seemed like a good idea. The $8 admission was reasonable, and I desperately needed an indoor, air-conditioned activity. So off I went.
Clean Lady Bird Lake
At March’s It’s My Park Day, I learned that non-profit Keep Austin Beautiful organizes periodic large-scale cleanups called Clean Lady Bird Lake. So this month I volunteered to pick up trash at Shoal Beach Metropolitan Park, where I had also worked in March. My motivation was two-fold: I use this section of the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail almost every day, and I knew that this area was underwater during the Memorial Day Flood.
Recycling on the Go
For many years now, the City of Austin has been encouraging recycling for residents and businesses. Single-stream recycling makes compliance even easier since items do not need to be sorted first. Now even pedestrians can do their part in the downtown area, thanks to a new initiative called Recycling on the Go.
Austin Ice Cream Festival: 2015
The official title is the Austin Ice Cream Festival, but in our household, today is commonly known as “Ice Cream for Lunch Day.” This one-day event featured live music, contests, crafts, rides, and most importantly, 15 ice cream vendors. Three samples were included with the $10 admission (kids 8 and under were free). Bill and I decided to purchase some extra tickets…this was lunch, after all.
Blanton Museum of Art
The Blanton Museum of Art is located on the southern end of the University of Texas campus. Built in 2004, their current two-story home has plenty of space for hosting temporary exhibitions and for displaying pieces from their extensive permanent collection of over 17,000 works.
Summer Music in the City: 2015
Temperatures here are arisin’ as we head into the month of August. But Austinites are lucky to have lots of free music options to keep our minds off the weather during the hot summer months.
Brick Fiesta
Everything was Awesome at last weekend’s Brick Fiesta! This convention was organized by the Texas LEGO Users Group (TexLUG). Bill and I did not attend the actual convention, but we did go over to the Hilton Doubletree Austin to tour the exhibit hall. A big turnout was expected, so we arrived shortly after the doors opened.