Author Archives: janis

HONK!TX

Posted on by
1

Last weekend sixteen street bands from all over the US converged on Austin for the second annual HONK!TX festival. Wikipedia describes street bands as “ambulatory, acoustic bands playing music in public spaces.” I would also add “…dressed in outlandish costumes and doing things with hula hoops.” 

The first two days of HONK!TX took place up near the University of Texas, then the festival moved downtown for the final day. Bill and I watched the bands pass by on East Sixth Street. Minor Mishap Marching Band from Austin brought up the rear of the parade. (We became fans of this band.at last December’s Downtown Stroll,) Along with other bystanders, we followed the parade about six blocks over to Republic Square Park. 

The bands took turns performing on the patio under the large oak tree at Republic Square Park. In general, the songs had New Orleans brass and European folk music influences, with a little klezmer and jazz improvisation thrown in now and then. But having said that, one band played Arcade Fire’s Wake Up. And Austin’s Academicos Da Opera is a  Brazilian samba group with plenty of drums and dancing girls. 
The performers seemed to be former high school and college “band nerds” who still enjoy playing their instruments and wearing costumes. Many were 20-somethings, but a few looked to be much older.
The March Madness Marching Band from Lexington Kentucky staged an elaborate dream-sequence play, complete with witches and evil monsters. 

The Forward! Marching Band came in from Wisconsin for the festival. This group had  excellent soloists…perhaps UW-Madison music majors?

Many bands featured hula hoopists and some were really quite talented. I guess majorettes are no longer fashionable? 

Cap 10K: 2012

Posted on by
2
Today marked the 35th anniversary of the Capitol 10,000, affectionately known as the “Cap 10K.” This annual race is the largest 10K in Texas and the fifth largest in the US. The announcer said that over 23,000 participated in this morning’s race, although some web sites are putting the number closer to 25,000. Bill has run in this race for several years now but today was only my second Cap 10K.
We delayed leaving our apartment to take pictures of the crowd, so the national anthem was already in progress as we made our way across the Congress Avenue Bridge. The starting area was jammed but we eventually squeezed into the mob and slowly shuffled up to the starting line, passing it about ten minutes after the race had begun. 
The race course made a giant loop around downtown Austin and ended at Auditorium Shores. Much of the course was flat except for a few small hills. Bands played along the way and many bystanders cheered us on. Participants were encouraged to wear costumes and some did; ballet tutus and superheroes seemed to be most popular. Two roadside groups handed out small cups of beer and another gave out bacon samples for some reason. 
Scott MacPherson was the men’s winner, finishing in 29:50. Kara June won for the women with a time of 35:02. 
Here is my second favorite section of the race course: looking down 15th street towards the Lamar Street overpass. 
And my favorite part of the race? The finish line, of course!

Workin’ on the W

Posted on by
Reply
There’s lots of activity over at the W this week. Finally the temporary balcony panels are being replaced on the building. Workers are busy installing new railings and panels on the condo floors above the W hotel.

As you might remember, last June glass panels from the balconies started dropping off the building, forcing the W hotel to close for a few days. Surrounding streets and sidewalks were blocked while almost 1000 glass panels were replaced with wooden ones. That was nine months ago, but perhaps it takes that long to birth balcony systems? Hopefully the W will have no more balcony woes now.

Back Home Again

Posted on by
Reply

I am glad to be back home in Austin. I was away over spring break, visiting family and friends. Yes, I missed SXSW last week. Bill stayed in town for SXSW Music and Film. You can read his movie reviews at billandbillmovies.com.

When I arrived earlier today, the Austin airport was crowded with musicians and tourists  waiting to catch flights out of town. Everyone seemed to be playing or carrying guitars. Carolyn Wonderland and her band were performing on the terminal’s upstairs stage…one last Austin music memory for some, but more like a “Welcome Home” sign for me.

This afternoon I happily resumed my daily jaunts around Lady Bird Lake. I see that the city still has cleanup work to complete from SXSW. Fences are still up from the concerts at Auditorium Shores and litter needs to be fished out of the lake. 

Spring came to Central Texas during my absence. The trees were bare when I left but most have sprouted shiny green leaves now. Bluebonnets are in full bloom along the Hike and Bike Trail. 

Temperatures are warmer now and I can tell that Austin had more rain last week. Children are once again playing in the fountain over at Butler Park. Hopefully the other downtown fountains will be turned on too, now that our drought restrictions are easing.

More rain is predicted for tonight and tomorrow as a cold front approaches our area. But, hey, it’s good to be back home again!

It’s My Park Day: 2012

Posted on by
1
Each year Austin Parks Foundation sponsors It’s My Park Day at city parks and public lands. In 2011, over 2,000 volunteers participated in 72 projects all around the city.
This year I joined about 25 other volunteers at Auditorium Shores on the south side of Lady Bird Lake. Our leader Bill Fraser explained that he has been this park’s “adopter” for the last several years and works closely with city officials on maintenance projects and future plans for the large expanse of land.
After gathering for a group photo, the volunteers split into smaller work crews. With assistance from city workers and a backhoe loader, several crews fortified the shoreline with rocks and gravel to prevent erosion. 
My crew was assigned to spread fine gravel to level out an eroded section of the leash-free area. Our crew shoveled the gravel into wheelbarrows, dumped it along the shore, and then raked and packed it down so the gravel wouldn’t slide into the water. We were very grateful when a muscular guy (who was finishing his morning run) offered to handle the wheelbarrows for us.
Our work was completed in about 90 minutes and soon dogs were once again frolicking along that section of the lake. 
The weather and scenery were beautiful and I enjoyed talking about Austin with my crew members. But I must admit that I was a little jealous of another crew’s assignment: to pressure wash and scrub the famous statue of Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Cowboy Breakfast: 2012

Posted on by
2
Today I attended my second Cowboy Breakfast. This free event across the lake at Auditorium Shores promoted the upcoming Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo. This was a very educational experience for me, just like last year’s breakfast. Here is what I learned: 
 
Cowboys eat catfish toes for breakfast.
Cowboys like to lasso unsuspecting small children. Cowboys also like to lean on pickup trucks. 

Cowboys know how to make excellent biscuits.

Cowboys are talented line dance leaders.
Cowboys have a serious boot fetish. 

Cowboys like cowboy coffee. I learned this last year and it is still true.

 
Cowboys saddle up on longhorns, who appear to tolerate the situation. 
Cowboys also saddle up on Harleys. 

Downtown Murals

Posted on by
Reply

One of downtown Austin’s more famous street murals is hiding the burned-out shell of the Black Cat Lounge. A liquor application has been posted so perhaps this vacant space is about to be renovated? (Sixth Street and San Jacinto)

 
A lovely but fading park scene is painted on the side of the Ghost Inn. (Fourth and Guadalupe)

Now that the Hickory Street restaurant has been remodeled, a sign says that this mural on the side of the building will be repainted soon. (Eighth and Congress)

These brightly-colored butterflies are on the side of the State Theatre building. (Seventh and Congress)

As you might guess, this scene is painted on the side of a bar, Darwin’s Pub.(Sixth and San Jacinto)

This mural by Federico Archuleta was commissioned by the Mexic-Arte Museum and is a popular backdrop for engagement and wedding pictures. (Fifth and Congress)

Just a peaceful Texas scene: an armadillo crossing highway 183. (Sixth and San Jacinto)

Local hot dog establishment Frank has started a public art wall on the side of their restaurant. Each month a different artist is invited to create a new mural. (Fourth and Colorado)

Austin Music Hall

Posted on by
Reply
 

Austin Music Hall is a medium-sized venue on Third and Nueces just a few blocks from our apartment. The converted warehouse is basically a two-story shell with a stage, ground floor and upstairs balcony. Each floor has restrooms and bar areas.

The building was upgraded in 2007 so that now seating capacity is 3,000 and general admission capacity is 4,400. Oversized music-themed artwork decorates the inside walls. 

Bill and I have gone to some concerts at Austin Music Hall, but the acoustics aren’t very good: the sound is too “live” in the center of the hall and too muffled under the balconies. (We would guess that performers now prefer the newer ACL-Live/Moody Theater with its excellent sound and light systems.) A few years ago we had fourth row seats for Willie Nelson and last December we watched The National from under the balcony here (just a few feet away from Craig Finn of The Hold Steady!). 
This venue seems better suited for activities other than concerts. The Austin Music Awards are presented here during SXSW week and area high schools rent the building for dances. Two weeks ago, TedxAustin convened here. Last weekend Bill and I attended the annual “Make a Difference” dinner/dance, benefiting the New Life Children’s Center, at Austin Music Hall. 

Austin Marathon and Half-Marathon: 2012

Posted on by
1

After several gloomy, rainy days, today’s cool and clear weather was near-perfect for the over 18,000 runners who participated in the LIVESTRONG Austin Marathon and Half-Marathon. I read that Lance Armstrong ran in the Half-Marathon but did not see him go by. As in previous years, the race benefited local organizations who handled the water stops along the way: “26 miles for 26 charities.”

The race course started and ended near the Texas State Capitol. Siyabonga Nkonde was the first runner to pass by our apartment building around Mile 2. He later finished first in the Half-Marathon (1:04:58). Allison Mendez won the women’s Half-Marathon (1:18:14).

The men’s marathon winner was Edward Kiptum (2:22:50) and the women’s winner was Shannon Bixler (3:02:28). Bill and I walked up to the finish line about four and one-half hours into the race and watched the many runners who were still coming in. 

Local musicians played all along the race course. Bill and I stopped to listen to a few songs by Dale Watson and his band since we had heard them a few months ago at a South Austin honky tonk, The Broken Spoke.

Segways

Posted on by
Reply

Segway tours are a unique way for out-of-town visitors to explore downtown Austin. Two companies offer tours here: SegCity and Gliding Revolution. I can recommend Gliding Revolution from personal experience; I have heard good reviews of SegCity too.

My first downtown tour with Gliding Revolution was several years ago (before our Big Move). After a short instructional lesson, I thoroughly enjoyed zipping around on the vehicle.

On my most recent tour, I was very happy to discover that riding a segway is like riding a bike: once you learn, you never forget. Our tour started at the downtown Holiday Inn near I-35. We had two guides: one leading in the front and one at the end to make sure that everyone safely negotiated street crossings. We traveled near Lady Bird Lake, through the Second Street district (our ‘hood!), up around the State Capitol Grounds, and along Sixth Street. We stopped at the Center for Mexican-American Cultural Arts, Texas State Capitol, and Driskill Hotel, finally arriving back at the Holiday Inn over three hours later.

Discounts are currently available on Groupon or on the SegCity and Gliding Revolution.  websites. Remember to bring extra money to tip the tour guides!