Merry Christmas from Austin
December 23, 2024 We went downtown last Wednesday for a holiday show by Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen. Since we were in the neighborhood, we strolled down 2nd Street to view Kempelen’s Owls, a pair of owl sculptures by the Butterfly Bridge at Central Library. I adore these moveable owls, ...
Diagon Alley’s magical Christmas tribute to Harry Potter
December 09, 2024 After magicking myself to Austin’s Diagon Alley in October to enjoy its over-the-top Harry Potter Halloween display, I returned last weekend to see it in Yule Ball mode. The owners of this Circle C neighborhood home have conjured up a wintry Harry Potter landscape complete with “snow,” ...
Waterloo Greenway light installations return for Austin’s 10th anniversary Creek Show
November 13, 2024 An art-loving Creek Monster lurks in the dark waters of Austin’s Waller Creek, according to Creek Show lore. I’m on the lookout for it each November when I attend Waterloo Greenway’s annual Creek Show, and every now and then I catch a glimpse. But really it’s an ...
Austin’s Harry Potter house, plus IT homage, for Halloween
October 31, 2024 Two nights ago, I steered my flying car to the Circle C neighborhood to check out — finally — Diagon Alley Austin, where each year one family displays jaw-dropping constructions from the Harry Potter series in their front yard. Hogwarts Castle, the Hogwarts Express train, the Owlery, ...
Sunset at Lady Bird Lake
September 20, 2024 A sherbet-colored sunset over Lady Bird Lake during a recent walk turned Austin’s glass skyscrapers into a pastel rainbow row. Kayakers were paddling the rippled water. Just another magical moment in the ATX! I welcome your comments. Please scroll to the end of this post to leave ...
Light-diffusing Petals and Ellsworth Kelly at Blanton Museum
July 12, 2024 I’d seen the Petals at night. But I hadn’t visited them in daylight. So one sunny day in June, I popped over to the Blanton Museum of Art to see the light-filtering, tulip-shaped shade structures on the plaza. In the distance, at the end of a new ...
Dambo troll enchants Austinites at Pease Park
March 21, 2024 A friendly troll has taken up residence in Pease Park, and Austin is going troll crazy. Built by Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo, who dreams up and installs whimsical, wooden trolls at sites all over the world, Malin is Dambo’s latest creation. Commissioned by Pease Park Conservancy ...
Digging is 18 years old, and new book news!
February 20, 2024 Last week I celebrated two milestones. Digging turned 18 years old on Valentine’s Day, which means the blog is a full-fledged adult now. Still can’t drink though. I’m amazed by how long blogging has continued to interest me, even as so many other blogs that started around ...
Folk art fence faces in South Austin
February 06, 2024 After a marvelously head-spinning visit to Austin’s thrifting treasure box, Uncommon Objects, I got turned around in its South Austin neighborhood. Cruising past a neighborhood day care, I spotted folk art faces on the fence and slowed down for a looksie. Upcycled junk has been turned into ...
Golden hour at Lady Bird Lake and downtown Austin
December 10, 2023 On these beautiful December days in the ATX, whenever I can, I get myself out of the house, make my way through holiday traffic, and set out on the Hike and Bike Trail’s 3-mile loop. If my timing is good, there’s nothing better than seeing the buildings ...
Thankful for today
November 23, 2023 Happy Thanksgiving, my fellow Americans! I’m finding much to be thankful for today and hope you are too. I’m grateful for cooler weather, walks around Lady Bird Lake, and a vibrant hometown to enjoy. Beauty all around me Peaceful moments in nature And of course family and ...
Creek Show art installations glow at Waterloo Greenway
November 16, 2023 Last night I headed downtown to Waller Creek to see this year’s Creek Show, an annual exhibition of light-art installations, put on by Waterloo Greenway. While the event is free, let me tell you, it’s worth it to pay $10 for a fast pass that allows you ...
Summer pleasures: Barton Springs Pool and Lockhart art
September 07, 2023 I had reservations for a dip at Blue Hole swimming hole in Wimberley, Texas, just before Labor Day. But the drought has left little untouched in Texas this summer, and I soon received a cancellation notice. Blue Hole has closed for the rest of the season due ...
Evening under the Petals at Blanton Museum
July 07, 2023 I’ve been wanting to see the Petals at Austin’s Blanton Museum of Art ever since the flower-shaped shade structures were officially unveiled in May. For one thing, I’m a big fan of shade in Texas. For another, I love public art. The Petals are a grove of ...
Zilker Garden lights up with neon, costumes for Surreal Garden
April 12, 2023 These flowers are watching you If you enjoy seeing a familiar garden with a twist of surreality, humor, and neon art, the Surreal Garden event at Zilker Botanical Garden is for you. And for me! I attended last year’s inaugural event and happily returned this year. The ...
Juliet Whitsett reimagines native plants and animals and co-curates Really Small Museum ATX
March 20, 2023 Browsing the well-curated garden shop at Barton Springs Nursery recently, I stopped to admire a dozen framed graphic prints of cacti, butterflies, snakes, salamanders, and other Texas flora and fauna. The artist behind these joyful works is Austinite Juliet Whitsett, and they are part of her “Threatened ...
