Showing posts with label congress avenue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label congress avenue. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Austin Neon on Congress Avenue



As a vintage neon fan, I was in hog heaven on South Congress Avenue in Austin. I hadn’t realized that Austin was a mecca for neon, but today’s post sure does attest to that fact! Neon has been called a dying art form, so it sure was nice to see it alive and well and in abundance! Here are a few of the examples of what I saw as I strolled up and down Congress Avenue...before the rain began! BTW: since I am admittedly not a neon expert, if some of these signs are not made of neon, please forgive me!







This cup of java is in a hurry!



A nice play on words...let’s all just get along, shall we?





It’s a pizza joint...but the pizza looks more like a button to me.





I wonder what the designer of this had in mind when they were creating it?



Finally, how about this neon rainbow ceiling?



See more Austin, Texas photos at my main website.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Austin: Not So Weird



I really don't pay too much attention to slogans. Typically, they are made up by marketers who stretch the limit of the truth to come up with something catchy and memorable. "Keep Austin Weird" is such a slogan. On my third trip to Austin, I can say that it is probably one of the least weird cities I have ever encountered. Perhaps I missed the era of weird. Sure, there are a few kitschy/odd/memorable things to see, but nothing that would brand this city in the Lone Star State as "weird."

A Jefferson Davis statue in front of the capitol with no protestors. Only in Texas.



A Willie Nelson mural:



No idea about the story behind this mural off of Sixth Street, but I sure do like it.



Now here's one I had to reflect on. A bench that is a "tribute" to the homeless. However, in putting this statue on the bench, the city has effectively removed one more spot for the homeless to rest on. Keep Austin Ironic? Hmmmm...that could work.



Here's a shot of Sixth Street, just around the corner from the Driskill Hotel. I would liken this lively area to New Orlean's Bourbon Street, only a little less crowded. And a lot less interesting.



Here you can find The Bat Bar:



I got a little carried away with the animated gifs:





Have always admired the Frost Bank Tower, which seems like a modern version of the Chrysler Building in New York City:



Cool looking at night as well:



The Russian House. Very interesting on the outside; can't speak for what goes on inside.



And lest we forget...



The green light behind this clock had me entranced.



Art Deco can be found in Austin; love this Scarbrough Building:



A gorgeous detail shot:



More facade details in the downtown area:



I'll leave you with this one. This busty gal sure has a lot of gusto as she sets the canon off. Apparently it's a tribute to Angelina Eberly, an innkeeper and hero in the Texas Archive War. I don't know much about Angelina, but she looks like she could have been part of the "weird" campaign.



More Austin photos at my main website.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Congress Ave. in Austin: 2 out of 5



Today, we travel to Austin, Texas, for a view of what Congress Avenue looked like fifty years ago in 1964. It's pretty much your typical Main Street with a 1960's facelift. During that time it was fairly typical for businesses to cover their "antiquated" store fronts with corrugated steel or other materials to "modernize" them.

A modern view of the same area shows that of the five buildings visible in the 1964 shot, only two have weathered the storm. Mercifully, the ones that have survived have had their storefronts restored, minus the tacky 1960's coverings.



Congress Avenue (aka SoCo Shopping District) is the heart of restaurants and retail for Austin, such as Hey Cupcake (cupcakes from an Airstream Trailer):



Uncommon Objects (raw materials for creative living):



And Vespaio Ristorante:



Where else but Texas could you find a giant rabbit and cupcake in the same place? I guess that's what the slogan "Keep Austin Weird" refers to.

See more Daveland Austin, Texas photography on my Austin web page.