The Sunshine State

I haven't been all that interested in going to Florida in my adult life, but Miami seemed like it might be a little bit different from the rest of the state. I just got back from a little Thanksgiving week trip there, and while I had fun, it doesn't really make me want to go back there. If I want palm trees and beaches I'll go to L.A.--there's better food and even better cultural offerings. But that isn't stopping me from posting some pictures...

We learned of a vegan food truck that was serving lunch in Coconut Grove, so we took a walk around the neighborhood beforehand and stumbled upon a little waterfront park (can't remember the name of it). At the end of the pier there was a sort of repository of boats.

Almost looks like a toy from this angle.

Some spilled paint on the pier.

A grove of palm trees on the other side of the pier.


After that we went to Crandon Park, which includes a beach, golf course, tennis court, amusement park, etc. We went swimming at the beach and later on wandered around the gardens, which are actually the grounds of a former zoo.

They left a few of the cages there, but with the bars mostly removed.

I love the murals on this one.

There's very much a feeling like the animals have just recently escaped and are still lurking nearby, especially with all the crazy sounds from the dozens of birds roaming the park.

We saw peacocks, ibises, vultures, some really tall birds we couldn't identify, a group of really angry ducks that hissed at us a lot, and even a bunny.

We went there just before dark as the sun was setting. I love the low light in these pictures.

Coconuts!

A few more from Austin

A few more random photos from my week in Austin.

Waiting at the traffic light near Austin Books and Comics.

The Boston Cream Pie and Orange Dreamsicle from Casey's New Orleans snowballs

The cupcake truck in the rain.

We witnessed this house being demolished. *

Bowling at Dart Bowl, where I once saw The Big Lebowski in the parking lot. *

Chocolate chip pancakes courtesy of my gracious host

The preserved Daniel Johnston mural on the side of the former Sound Exchange. *

More street art around town. *

*Photo by Dave

Food trucks in ATX

I noticed that, like in New York, the food truck craze has caught on in Austin in a big way. For the most part, they seem to set up in designated areas, rather than rotating spots on city streets. All over South Austin we passed by dirt lots with three or four trucks parked, some, conveniently, with picnic tables, though most of them were closed every time we tried to partake. But there were a few exceptions such as the incredible Chi'lantro (please open a branch in NYC--or maybe not*) and CoolHaus (which has in fact just started up in New York).

We encountered trucks selling grilled sausages, food served in cones (except, strangely, ice cream), fried green tomatoes, cupcakes, ice cream sandwiches, Korean tacos, Mexican tacos, and even a trailer where you could adopt a pet (also closed when we passed by).

Here are just a few of them:








*While I've witnessed an explosion of new food trucks popping up within a three block radius of where I work--on any given day there will be at least three lined up on Hudson Street, maybe more, with new ones showing up every week--I have yet to really frequent any of them very much (which the exception of Joyride, which has created the Wednesday tradition of Stumptown coffee). The one time I tried getting lunch at Taim Falafel it took nearly 45 minutes from the time I got on line to when I was handed my sandwich. This seems to be pretty standard across most of the trucks--everyone wants to eat there, and they just can't churn out the orders fast enough. And when I only have an hour break, 45 minutes is way too long to be standing around waiting.

Remember the Alamo

After a day in Dallas we made our way down to our one-time home of Austin, where we spent the week swimming at Barton Springs, eating tacos, watching midnight movies at the Alamo Drafthouse, and all the other things that make that city great. A few photos from around town:

Texas is the reason

While in Dallas we decided we had to make a stop at Dealey Plaza, the site of the Kennedy assassination. The Book Depository where Oswald was allegedly stationed has been converted into a museum, and the infamous window is set up to look as it did on 11/22/63. (As Bill Hicks said, "It's really accurate...cause Oswald's not in it.")

We'd been to the museum the last time we were in Dallas so we skipped that part but decided the plaza was worth another visit. This picture was taken while standing on the spot where Kennedy was killed (it's actually marked with an X). The sixth floor window is visible all the way to the right above the trees.

Wasn't kidding about that X.

I also love how "Grassy Knoll" is labeled as such.

The Zapruder film was shot from atop this concrete slab.

Many believe a second gunman was stationed behind this picket fence.

I don't really consider myself a conspiracy theorist, but this picture is pretty creepy, especially given that those people are probably standing on the X.

Love the shadows in this concrete structure behind the grassy knoll.

Deep in the throat of Texas

Just got back from a trip to Dallas and Austin. I'm still adjusting back to NY weather and working, but I thought I'd get the old slide show going...

At La Guardia Airport we actually got to board the plane from the runway. Very old-timey.*

Our first stop in Dallas was our hotel, where we found this giant stone slab carved with the Ten Commandments. Yup, definitely in Texas. *

Inside Twisted Root burger, where we ate some very sloppy but delicious veggie burgers.

Across the street, above the Eight Track Museum (sadly, not open when we showed up).

I don't know where this was but I like it. *

The sidewalk on the route to the baseball stadium (the reason we were in Dallas). Those holes in the concrete look cool but are a pain to walk on.

The man in front of us rang a cowbell every time the Rangers did something good. * This got old very fast.

Next morning, in front of Oddfellows while we waited for a table. * (Good breakfast/lunch**, by the way, but they don't know how to make a banh mi. Don't know why that's surprising.)

*Indicates photo by Dave. (He may also choose to take credit for the use of the word "old-timey.")

**I have an aversion to portmanteaus. I shudder whenever I hear someone say "staycation." Can't help it.