Chris Hondros, 1970 - 2011

By now, everyone has seen the incredible pictures taken by my friend Chris Hondros, who was killed in Libya on Wednesday.

But here are some of my favorite pictures taken OF him.

"Stolen" from Facebook, and in (almost) no particular order...

Don't Mess with Texas

But, why would you?

Texas is awesome!

I just spent a long weekend keeping Austin weird.

My flight Thursday night was (predictably) delayed, so my friend & I only had time for a quick dinner at Guero's Taco Bar on South Congress Avenue.

The South Congress neighborhood (SoCO, of course) was seedy just a few years ago, but is now hip and trendy.

Guero's is consistently on the list of best Mexican restaurants in

Austin, and the food was incredible!

The margaritas, though?

I didn't love them. (Too lime-y.)

Friday morning, we were back on South Congress to do some shopping.

We started at Feather's Boutique, a vintage store with a great selection. I left with a pair of vintage brown Justin ropers and what the tag calls a "dress", but I will wear as a "shirt".

I was really looking for cowboy boots (when in Texas...), so we walked down the street to the legendary Allen's Boots

Look! The l's are little boots!

You can't miss the big red boot.

Allen's sells boots...

hats...

and these things.

Surprisingly, I didn't buy any boots or hats (or any of those other things either).

After Allen's, it was time for lunch at Snack Bar, a funky little diner/lounge with food that is local, organic and "raised right".

They also allow dogs on the patio and offer free wi-fi.

I really liked this place...

The biscuits & gravy were delicious, and so was the Bloody Maru (a Bloody Mary made with sake!).

After more shopping at more vintage stores along South Congress (there are a lot of them!), we headed to Texas Hill Country.

I'm vegetarian-y, but you can't go to Texas and not eat BBQ. Several sources suggested Salt Lick, which is outside Austin, but (luckily for us!) at the site of the Old Settler's Festival.

The Salt Lick Bar-b-Que has been in business since 1967 (a very good year!).

The 3 meat combination plate with beans, potato salad and cole slaw was perfect.

Beware: it's cash only and BYOB (but they recently opened a winery that sells wine and beer).

After dinner, we went next door to the Old Settler's Music Festival, which features "the best in roots and Americana music".

What it doesn't feature is The Avett Brothers, who cancelled THE DAY BEFORE.

We had fun anyway, and discovered a really good new band (Greensky Bluegrass) and...

a really not-good new band (Langhorne Slim).

The next day, we drove out to the Hill Country again. This time, to Lake Travis for lunch (and some of the best mojitos I've ever had!) on the patio overlooking the lake at Cafe Blue.

After lunch, we made a brief stop downtown and wandered through the Texas Capitol building. I'm not really into politics, but the building was beautiful...

And the lights in the Senate and House of Representatives chambers spell TEXAS!

From mid-March through November, thousands (and I mean thousands) of bats live under the Congress Street Bridge. And every night, at sunset, they all come flying out.

For some reason, this is a huge attraction.

View from the Congress Street bridge

A cloud of bats

Gross

You wouldn't think you'd be hungry after that, but you'd be wrong.

We overheard one of the locals recommend Churra's Grill, which we'd driven by many times but never noticed.

It was delicious! Especially the Mexican Martini - a mixture of tequila, lime juice, and ...

Olive juice!

I was skeptical, but it really was good!

The next morning, we just had time for brunch at Enoteca Vespaio, another wonderful restaurant on South Congress.

It was a short trip, but we saw and did (and ate!) a lot.

If you like live music, bar-b-que, and bats, you'll love Austin!

"Thanks E'rybody"

- Murray Hammond, Old 97's bassist


Last night, I met up with some girls for Spaghetti a la Pete's at the historic Pete's Tavern, followed by an Old 97's show at Webster Hall.

As usual, the spaghetti was delicious.

And so were the Old 97's...

Rhett Miller

Making Progress

It's official...

I'm looking for a new job.

(I still have the old one. I just really need a new one.)

So, I'm feeling an increased sense of urgency to get all these little (and, not-so-little) projects done around my apartment (just in case I find a job in another town).

This weekend, I decided it was time to finally repaint the bathroom.

A few months ago (not telling how many), the bathroom in the apartment above mine flooded.

But, it's ok...

The super "fixed" it.



I originally intended to simply repaint the walls Chocolate by Restoration Hardware, but it was so spring-y here this weekend, I went with Benjamin Moore Pale Sea Mist instead.


I'm not sure I love it, but it's a definite improvement!