Stay Weird, Austin (ATX)

Austin, June 12 - 17, 2025

I miss writing a blog every day while galavanting around Europe. But in America, we have so many interesting places to visit. My niece Alex's marriage to Tyler provided me an entreé to Austin. And after five nights in and around the town, I'm going back. Here's a few of the stranger things.

Here's the Octopus sculpture at the corner of College St. and South Congress. Sorry to include some fellow stargazers, but this was a drive-by photo.

This, after eating Vinny's salad special of the day at Vinaigrette Restaurant at 2201 College.

Working in reverse chronological order, because who knows what day it is on vacation, here's the Gospel Band at Stubb's BBQ on Sunday. At the end of the set, they invite members of the audience to sing. A group of guys on a golfing vacation singing with some soulful family was a delightful testimony for the power of music. Wish they had lip-synched. The golfers, not the band.

Still on Sunday, I ducked into the C-bar, a newish-old-style-dive-bar developed by the owners of The Continental, up South Congress a bit. Lucky me to find it as it's not on GPS. As the thunder rumbled and the rain started pummeling, I parked under a tree I thought would protect my rental car from hail, which the radio said was coming.  Inside, I found Brandin and his Chicken Shit Band, a talented group of rock-a-billy singers. Take a listen to his introduction to Chicken Shit Bingo.

When his associate started walking through the bar with this chicken, and I identified her as a Rhode Island Red, I was shocked to learn she was unnamed. Every 4-Her knows not to name an animal destined for slaughter, but here was a chick who just needed to shit on a square to stay alive. I named her Rhoda and she did not dump on square 31, the one I bought for 4 bucks. Stayed for a few rounds of bingo (and excellent gin & tonics).

Should save this pic for another blog, but I was astonished that a semi-formal wedding at the Arlo in Bee Cave, TX, would include neon light dancing.  Over two hours, I think I missed two songs. In my headlights I had "Alex's wedding dance" every time I tackled the physical therapy for my new knee. So glad I did it, but the next day? An achy achy leg.