The unofficial slogan of the Capital City is “Keep Austin Weird.” Even though a couple other local tour companies tout this motto by selling shirts, caps, and stickers, nobody but the Texpert actually offers a journey to the odd side of town. My KAW trip visits several exemplars of only-here places. Consider these highlights for …
This past winter, I had the pleasure of appearing on KLRU‘s show Downtown, a weekly exploration of the district that’s “as Austin as it gets.” My segment dealt with the writer William Sidney Porter, who went on to further fame as O. Henry after he left Austin. His time in our fair city was one …
My two clients yesterday wore identically patterned dresses, but in different colors of lightweight material. Both from Green Bay, Wisconsin, they had already figured out how to stay cool in Texas in August. One had just moved to this metro area and was welcoming her visiting friend. An amateur photographer colleague of mine was also …
My friend and fellow geographer Kevin Anderson delivers noontime lectures on ecological topics every month for the CER. This past Monday was Discovering the Colorado: Environmental History of this Texas River. Kevin also leads occasional tours along Waller Creek, the informal eastern edge of the original Austin city, and never ceases to extol Life on …
Last weekend, Sunday to be precise, I spent 14 hours touring all over Central Texas a group of high-tech visitors from Russia. These computer experts, several with Ph.Ds, were guests of one of Austin’s sterling test and measurement companies. Nine folks filled my ‘Burb and a trailing car driven by one of the Russians. Helpfully, …
The Captain’s daughter was getting married in Austin this weekend, so he treated his friends and family to a Downtown Tour Friday and Saturday. After a scrumptious lunch at Hula Hut, the first day’s contingent saw 6th Street, the Capitol grounds, UT, the Drag, LBJ Library, and Hyde Park. Saturday, another batch of the same …
Yesterday I got to introduce a new resident to Austin’s charms. From Chicago via Colorado, Dr. H and her parents enjoyed an overview of neighborhoods close to downtown south and west. Of special interest were SoCo, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, Zilker, Barton Hills, Clarksville, and Tarrytown. These three travelers, whom I met at the Driskill, …
Flash–Crack–Boom! Here comes another downpour, this from tropical depression Erin. We in Central Texas enjoyed several weeks of dry, hot conditions–normal for August–but woke up to precipitation once more. It’s expected to last most of today and perhaps into tomorrow. With luck, this rain will clean the air here, which has looked awfully dirty recently.