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I woke up and realized that there is a whole world out there waiting for me to explore! So, while culture and society tell me that I should because I am, I ignore the negative. And do what I want the way I like! Read more Los Angeles, United States
  • TravelerSummer getaway to TX
    Day 4

    Happy Independence Day!

    July 4, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 81 °F

    Happy 4th of July! And for us surpassing 10,000 steps walking around downtown Austin today!

    We kicked off our morning with a jazz brunch at Geraldine's featuring the Michael Hale Trio in the Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt.

    With a great table, up front and center to the stage, the sound was just right and the jazz trio was tight. They played a set of jazz standards with finesse (with Ann giving us a quick study in jazz chord progressions too!) while we enjoyed eating our selections from the brunch menu. One standout all-around favorite were the buttermilk biscuits with maple honey butter! The music and food were a winning combination!

    Leaving Geraldine's, we stopped off the elevator and headed across the lobby to Cafe 605 for coffee. Our timing was perfect since the cafe served as a nice haven to enjoy drinking our coffee and stay dry as a sudden rain shower pelted the ground for about 30 minutes!

    As we left the hotel and started our walk back towards downtown, we didn't realize that we were walking towards another historic Austin district, Rainey Street.

    Rainy Street is a former residential block lined with historic homes in bungalow style. Today Rainy Street is quintessential Austin with bungalows now housing funky cafes and lounges (we walked passed Clive, G'ral Mahal, Lucille, Stagger Lee, Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden), string-lit patios, restaurants, clusters of food trucks, live music, and craft cocktails and beers.

    Rainy Street was buzzing with lots of people of all ages,extremely lively, and music streaming throughout the block! Early Fourth of July celebrations were in full force! Take a stroll down this block and you will find yourself getting in a party mode, no matter the time of day or night!

    Next to eating breakfast tacos, you can't leave Austin without eating barbeque. Choosing one can be daunting because you could easily spend a week in Austin and not eat at the same barbeque place twice!

    Before coming to Austin, we read about and noted a number of barbeque establishments. Arriving in Austin, locals recommended several more places that we hadn't even heard of!

    So, before leaving Austin, we had to have bar-b-que! Walking along Congress Avenue we stopped into Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que.

    Like many barbeque restaurants in Austin, Cooper's is family-owned, and rich in generational history. The family opened its first place in 1953. I also read that in the early 2000s, President George W. Bush declared Cooper's his favorite barbecue restaurant.

    I have to say that their bar-b-que reputation is spot on! You can watch the server/pitmaster grill and serve large beef brisket, beef and pork ribs, prime rib, chicken, and sausage. We each selected beef brisket along with a second meat and sides. He loaded generous cuts on a tray for weighing and wrapping at the next station. Oh, I forgot to mention that you pay by the pound per meat choice! It can get pricey!

    With our takeout bags in hand we walked back to our hotel to enjoy our feast. The brisket was cooked and seasoned perfectly. And the chicken grilled just right and done through and through. The sausage was good, but may be too rich and oily for sensitive stomachs! And none of the meat needed additional sauce. It would have drown out the taste of the light and smoky mesquite flavor of the meat!

    Later, Ann and Dawn watched the firework display happening near the Texas Capitol from the balcony of our hotel suite. And I watched a few fireworks from the window in my room as I packed! It was a pleasant ending to our mini-vacay as our last night in Austin drew to a close.

    Happy 4th of July in Texas!    Read more

  • TravelerSummer getaway to TX
    Day 3

    South Congress Avenue and The Domaine

    July 3, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    We've been told that there is nothing like an Austin breakfast taco! So, this morning, that's what we're having for breakfast! And having breakfast at Veracruz All Natural was the best!

    There are so many taco variations on their brunch menu so deciding which one to try took a minute! Which we had more than enough enough time to decide because the long line was out the door!

    I suggest you try the Migas (egg, tortilla chips, tomato, onion, cilantro, Monterey Jack cheese, and avocado) and a green smoothie! Mmm, good! Or, like Ann, try the Shrimp Macha Taco (shrimp sauteed in butter and garlic, rice, macha salsa (hot and spicy!), green onions, and avocado! And, add Dawn's choice, the Migas Poblanas Taco (egg, tortilla chips, poblano pepper, red onion, black beans, queso fresco, and avocado). You will enjoy any one of these are one of the many other varieties offered on their brunch menu!

    Leaving Veracruz at the Line Hotel, we walked across the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge (informally referred to as the Congress Avenue Bridge). The bridge is a concrete arch that crosses over Lady Bird Lake. On November 16, 2006, the Austin City Council renamed the current bridge in honor of Ann W. Richards, the 45th Governor of Texas, and long-time resident of Austin.

    A note of interest: the bridge serves as a 'cave dwelling' home for the Mexican free-tail bat from early March to early fall! After sunset, the bats pour out and cascade over East over Lady Bird Lake. We missed seeing this nightly show! But, it's an activity to plan for on our next visit.

    Crossing the Congress Avenue Bridge, we strolled into SoCo, the popular and vibrant neighborhood south of Lady Bird Lake. The blocks are populated by iconic and boutique shops, restaurants, and bars.

    Talk about busy! That's an understatement! Tourist, locals, young, old, families, everyone was here! Oh, yeah, and it was extremely hot and humid!

    We made our way into several iconic shops (to enjoy the luxury of air conditioning and everyone seemed to have the same idea judging by the number of people inside):

    - Tesoros Trading Company, the perfect place to browse and finger funky handcrafted clothes, jewelry, games, and household items, and unusual and unique folk art curios from around the world.

    - Allens Boots, a Texas boot store tradition, was just as eclectic as Tesoros! Crazy, showy, extravagant, men and women cowboy boots and country western attire to appeal to every taste! If you are looking for cowboy boots for any occasion or style from the traditional to the exotic, you will find it in Allen's!

    Our favorite stop on South Congress Avenue, well Amy's Ice Creams of course! A local chain with innovative ice cream selections. Just what we needed to cool off and refresh before our next destination!

    O.K., I missed several good photo ops, but I was too hot and too many people on the sidewalks to stop, focus, and shoot! So, note to self for another time in Austin!

    A trip always has to include some familiar retail therapy. Why not check out how the fashion and styles in another state compare to home? So, a Lyft-ing we went to The Domaine, a beautiful park-like shopping area with upscale and mainstream stores and restaurants.

    While many of the stores in central Texas are identical to those in southern California (Macy's and Nordstrom are no different!), I was excited to visit my first Starbuck's Reserve! And see a lot of shops I've heard of, but I hadn't visited in southern California yet (i.e. CB2, Free People Movement).

    And, after a casual patio dinner (the grain bowls rocked!) at Flower Child, health food restaurant (another newbie and first for me!) , we headed back to our hotel with another day full of memorable activities in Austin.    Read more

  • TravelerSummer getaway to TX
    Day 2

    The Real Austin History Narrative

    July 2, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 90 °F

    Dawn, Ann, and I embarked on our second tour this evening as we "get to know Austin 101" from a different perspective, a 2-hour walking tour of historical black Austin led by Javier Wallace. Javier is the founder of Black Austin Tours and an Austin native.

    As he told our group "[my] thing is to flip the narrative on its head and give us another perspective." And Javier is a master storyteller! And while focused on the accomplishments of African Americans in Texas history as written, Javier emphasized knowing and understanding the leading role these individuals played in African Americans history. And the importance of retelling their stories witin the context of Texas history.

    Starting at the Texas African American History Memorial, as we walked Javier provided us with rich chronological accounts of the early Republic of Texas to the specific role of African Americans during the Texas Revolution to the dominance of black businesses thriving along East 6th Street in downtown Austin during the 1950s and 1960s.

    Javier highlighted

    - the Texas Capitol. He explained how the Texas government didn't have the funds to build the State Capitol so they leased incarcerated convicts using the convict leasing system. This system was disproportionately skewed to African American men.

    - Wooldridge Square. Reverend Jacob Fontaine, ordained June 19, 1865, set out to create African American communities in Austin. Wooldridge Square was one of those communities.

    And the nearby site of Paul Quinn College, the first historically black college west of the Mississippi, that opened April 4, 1872. And a part of the Wooldridge Square community.

    In 1911, Booker T. Washington (author of Up from Slavery) spoke about doing something about desegregation in Austin. Speaking to an African American crowd in Wooldridge Square, he spoke of a call to action after he was told by the state legislature that he could not speak at the capitol building.

    - Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse. Formerly, the Travis County Courthouse, upheld racial segregation. Heman Sweatt, an African American man, bought suit against the head of the University of Texas in 1946 because he was refused admission. He wanted to become a lawyer.

    In honor of Sweatt, on October 21, 2005, the Travis County Courthouse was renamed the Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse.

    - Congress Avenue. During the 1950s and 1960s the entire block was segregated. African Americans staged sit- and stand-ins, demanding recognition of their rights and humanity, and freedom to go into this area. Places like the historic Paramount Theatre was one of those spaces.

    - East 6th Street. It was the historic corridor for a number of African American-owned businesses. In 1928, the City of Austin decided it wanted to preserve this area for whites. African Americans and some Mexicans had to live on the eastside, and later east of Interstate 35.

    Now it is the most famous street in Austin. And it is where Austin gets the idea of being the "live music capitol of the world."

    We ended our tour on 6th Street with a send-off from Javier and a clearer understanding about the real history of Austin, and the unsung African Americans of Austin who will always be part of the Texas city's history and stories. Javier is one who's family background is the proof.

    We realize that there is still so much more to know about African Americans in this creative and fun city!    Read more

  • TravelerSummer getaway to TX
    Day 2

    The Picnic, Waterloo, and Whole Foods

    July 2, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 90 °F

    Catching a second wind after our morning cruising the city on our e-bikes, it was time to explore other iconic spaces in Austin.

    Austin is known for its collection of food trucks parked in interesting locations throughout the city. The Picnic is a food truck park and outdoor eating area.

    We didn't know what to expect when we arrived. There were a handful of food trucks gathered in a circle under a giant canopy: The Mighty Cone, Have A Taco, The Burger Truck, Habibi ATX, and Coat & Thai. Food-wise we could choose from tacos, burgers, lobster rolls, pizza, Cajun, Meditterrean, fare, Thai, or meat, fish, or salad in a fried cone! There was even a food truck selling specially prepared treats for your special four-legged pooch, the Original Dog Treat Truck!

    After a tasteful lunch, we left the Picnic and headed to Waterloo Records & Videos. Another Austin icon, think Amoeba Records in Hollywood at about one-third the space!

    Waterloo had a nice vibe with bins full of vinyl and CDs from everywhere: foreign, domestic, and locally, and a performing stage for live in-house performances. We browsed the aisles looking through their cool collection of vintage, r&b, rock, funk, and old-school records and videos. Lot's of surprised finds in this small record shop!

    Exiting Waterloo's, we headed across the street to Whole Foods Market. This location is the flagship store and the first Whole Foods Market of the chain! While there were no distinguishing
    features that differentiated it from any other Whole Foods location, it's nice to know that we visited the first store in Austin!

    Jumping into a Lyft, we headed to the Texas Capitol to meet up with the group for our walking tour of historical Black Austin.    Read more

  • TravelerSummer getaway to TX
    Day 2

    Austin! Skyscrapers and Cityscapes!

    July 2, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 77 °F

    Friday morning! Welcome to Austin! Hot and humid!

    Our first outing this morning (I'll refer to it as "getting to know Austin 101!") is a 2-hour e-bike (part bike, part motorized scooter) ride around downtown Austin with Your Biker Gang! Led by our wonderfully fun and crazy guide, Rooster!

    Zipping through the streets of downtown Austin, Rooster kept us engaged bopping to the sounds of his cool smooth jazz and reggae playlist streaming from the speaker strapped to the back of his bike. Instructed on his hand signals, we slowed down or stopped at intersections, or pulled over, parked our bikes and got a quick history or commentary about a skyscraper, building, or venue as he pointed to them.

    Sites and public art highlighted on our ride around downtown included:

    - The Austin Central Library, a beautiful modern structure with an contemporary architectural design.

    - The Frost Bank Tower dubbed the "Owl Building" by the locals because of its bird-like appearance.

    - The Independent, a residential skyscraper and the tallest residential building in the U. S. west of the Mississippi. It looks like a giant Jenga game pieces tower!

    - Kempelen's Owls, 10 feet tall Texas horned owls with interactive moving heads constructed of layered metal and composite materials. One of Austin's Art in Public Spaces collection.

    - One of the beautiful custom Gibson guitars of the Guitartown Austin art project, "Vibrancy" by Craig Hein.

    - Juan Pelota Cafe owned by legendary Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.

    - Austin Ballet

    - The Texas Capitol and the surrounding mall area

    We capped off our morning ride with iced beverages from Sweetwater's and lively conversation about music and jazz clubs with Rooster before returning to the Your Banker Gang to remove our helmets and turn in our bikes!

    Ann and Dawn, we did it! Rode our first e-bikes! And, we're still in one piece!    Read more

  • TravelerSummer getaway to TX
    Day 1

    Ann/Dawn/LAX to AUS!

    July 1, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    Got loaded into Lyft! One rolling duffel, 1 nylon, backpack, crossover body bag, and me!

    On the way to Windsor Hills to Ann and Dawn's home! Then all aboard for ride to LAX.

    It's our first travel adventure together! And it's a full flight to Austin!Read more

  • TravelerSunday Northbound Cali
    Day 1

    Cambria Scarecrow Festival

    October 18, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    This year marks the 11th year of the Cambria Scarecrow Festival. A sustainable collection of artistic creativity and originality shattered in various locations throughout this forested "Pines of the Sea" seaside village!

    An enjoyable surprise awaits you as you stroll through the Old Cambria Marketplace along Main Street, the Dia De Los Muertos scarecrows! Colorful, whimsical, and cultural symbolism surrounds you as you walk pass each life-size paper mached piece.

    Exciting seeing the fruit of the local students, residents, and businesses culminate in a wonderful display of ingenuity and expressions of life! Definitely worth putting on the calendar for next year!    Read more

  • TravelerSunday Northbound Cali
    Day 1

    Nitt Witt Ridge

    October 18, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    You really have to see this place! It is definitely unique and worthy of a look see!

    Some history, born in Oakland, California in 1896, Arthur 'Art' Harold Beal, spent his adolescence in an orphanage, worked vaudeville,0 and in the steel industry, was a merchant seaman, and an accomplished long-distance swimmer.

    In 1928 he purchased 2.5 acres of hillside property in Cambria, and began to construct a series of buildings. His one rule was not to pay for anything except cement! So his home was adorned with sea shells, wood, and broken plates. He made up of soda cans, toilet seats, scrap metal, glass, industrial discards, and anything else he collected from the city dump. BTW, he worked as the City of Cambria garbage collector too! Using only hand tools, Art worked on his project for over 50 years.

    In 1981 the site awarded the home as a California Historical Landmark status. Art continued to live on the property until 1989 until he moved into a nursing home. He died in 1992.

    It's hard to describe this house based on the current condition of this landmark. You could easily walk pass it and believe it's scheduled for tear down. Thanks to Michael and Stacey O'Malley, since 1999 they have owned the home, and worked to clean up the property and protect this unusual landmark!

    Take the Anti Hearst Castle tour (Art used Hearst Castle discards in his house too) and see what this house is all about. You will walk away slightly inspired!    Read more

  • TravelerOff track Highway 101 north
    Day 3

    Solvang

    September 13, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Welcome to Solvang, "A little slice of Denmark in Southern California ". Located in the Santa Inez Valley, the heart of Santa Barbara wine country.

    It's been some years since I discovered Solvang while a college student at UCSB. Times definitely change everything as I saw in Solvang. A once quiet and quaint European hamlet with all the authenticity of Denmark is now just another tourist stop and a diverse cultural mix of style and character.

    Danish and international eateries, restaurants, wine shops, candy stores and ice cream parlors. Echoes of Danish heritage are still there, windmills now purposed for business offices or stores, and cobblestone areas, replaced by paved streets, the primary feeling is hoping to experience real Danish life, somewhere in Solvang.    Read more

  • TravelerOff track Highway 101 north
    Day 3

    Arroyo Hondo Vista Point

    September 13, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    There is an impressive history covering the Gaviota Coast. Among them is the old section of Highway 1 that bridged Arroyo Hondo Canyon, a southbound turnoff Highway 101.

    The California Highway Commission built the first complex bridge, Arroyo Hondo Bridge in 1918. Drivers traveled both north and south the US 101 across this bridge until 1950. Highway expansion bypassed it in 1984, but Caltrans recognized its historical value and left it in place.

    The view from the spots closest to the bridge (unfortunately you can't walk on the bridge or cross over it!) are stunning. You get a clear view of the architectural studiness in the design of the bridge. And there are fantastic views of the ocean and coastline.    Read more

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