“Visit to Austin”
On Sunday, after my last post, we watched a couple of interesting things. This YouTube video of “special places” is amazing – such crazy places where people survive.
Later, Diana had chosen “Project Hail Mary” for us to watch. I thought this was a serious sci-fi movie, and was surprised at the humour in the first hour or so – Ryan Gosling has such a good comedic sense. The 2nd and 3rd hours (yes – one of those films that could have used a real editor) got a bit sillier and more sci-fi. A good movie overall but I would not have wanted to sit through it at the theater.
I’m sure you know by now what a typical Diana Monday looks like. That’s right – two pickleball sessions. And then again on Tuesday morning.
We did well at trivia on Tuesday evening, despite ignoring Jack E’s correct answer about the most predominant colour in countries flags – red, not white.
Our first place finish was cemented with a correct answer to the final question:
Add up the answers to these four questions, getting within 5 points of the correct total:
How many Raiders of the Lost Ark etc movies did Harrison Ford appear in? (5)
How many wives of Henry VIII? (6)
How many 1,000 yard rushing seasons did Derek Henry complete? (7)
How many seasons did Henry Winkler star in Happy Days (11)
The correct answer was 29 and we guessed 30 for the win! The only meaty debate we add was around the seasons of Happy Days – for some reason I thought it was less, say 5 to 7. Denny persisted with over 10 and was correct. Oh, there was a short debate about the wives of Henry VIII – Denny submitted when I shared all of their names.
Wednesday started with a walk/run in the park for both of us, then Diana had yoga and I splintered off to Tartine for coffee and the newspaper. They had a stuffed baguette advertised that I couldn’t resist. Stuffed with ham, bacon, onion, mushrooms, fontina and some spicy peppers. Ridiculously yummy. It doesn’t look exciting in the photo but I wanted to add it so that I remember to try it again. This is certainly my favourite breakfast spot.
When I returned to pick up yoga D, this is the sight that greeted me – a bunch of bottoms up in the air. Apparently that was their final stretch.
We were scheduled to fly to Austin on Thursday afternoon. Diana managed to work in a morning pickle session before our 2pm airport departure. Emerging from the Austin airport to hike over for an Uber, we commented on what a change the difference in the level of humidity made. It was much more pleasant to move around than in New Orleans.
We checked into the lovely Carpenter hotel and made our way to the Odd Duck to meet Tim and Heidi for dinner. Tim had been fielding investment analyst calls all day and so we were appreciative that he was able to meet. The Odd Duck is my favourite Austin eatery and it’s particularly fun when you have four adventuresome diners to share dishes. So many great choices:
We started with the redfish ceviche with the wonderful watermelon aguachile sauce:
and the antelope tataki:
and the pork belly chalupa:
The antelope was the tastiest of the first round for me.
Tim started the second round with orders of the pork chop and fried quail. I added the seafood and pork sausage papperdelle:
It was harder to choose a round two winner, but I ultimately opted for the fried quail – so perfectly cooked.
Heidi suggested the olive cake for dessert – delicious.
This was a lovely evening – so nice to catch up over a casual and delicious meal.
Diana hit the river trail early on Friday morning and then we shared a breakfast sandwich before making our way to Blair and Lisa’s compound for a “lite lunch.”
I got kitted out in UT gear and we admired the amazing charcuterie platter that Lisa and her friend had assembled. Have you ever seen one like this?
We passed a very pleasant afternoon in the backyard of the compound enjoying the pool, cornhole, and pickleball experiences. The net for pickleball was set up for the first time and fancy paddles broken out of their packaging. Diana enjoyed explaining the basics of the game to her new converts.
We picked up dinner from a local Italian hole in the wall – all very tasty. Blair had been saving a bottle of Opus One that we gifted him for Christmas several years ago to drink together. He clearly stored it well as it tasted even better than I was expecting.
Diana started Saturday with a walk through the new neighbourhood, commenting on the difference that hills made to a route. We had some migas tacos (perfect – thanks Lisa) after that and then prepared for the “Trifecta” of a day.
- Boating on Lake Travis
- Dinner at Mexican Sugar
- Concert with The Romantics/Christopher Cross/Toto
Over four hours on the lake was plenty for me, and I know Diana would have kept going all day. We cruised around the lake:
Stopped to drop anchor and float around for a while:
and stopped into Stumpy’s for a snack:
The boat docked, we made a quick change at the resort and were picked up by Sami for our ride over to dinner and the concert. Mexican Sugar was a very large and pretty restaurant and the food and drinks were fine. The location was perfect to breakup our commute over to the concert. The amphitheater was located by the Formula 1 racing track on the south side of town.
The concert was considered “Yacht Rock” – a genre that includes bands like Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, and Christopher Cross. That’s the reason for the yacht captains’ hats in some of the ensuing pictures. The first band on the bill was The Romantics. We only knew two of their songs. Here’s an interesting version of one:
What’s up with Blair’s vintage Earl Campbell Oilers jersey, you ask? Well…he saw several videos where Christopher Cross was wearing the same shirt, and was hoping to attract his attention. Our seats were third row, center with perfect views – that’s how Blair rolls. Christopher Cross sounds great and broke out his biggest hit early in the set:
The last song was the other huge hit:
And then an acoustic reprise of “Sailing” – even better:
After a relatively short stage change over, Toto were ready to go. I captured their three biggest hits:
It was a treat to have Christopher Cross, his backup singers, and the guitarist from the Romantics join for the last number, Africa.
We found Sami easily and were back at the resort around midnight. What a fun packed day, we checked all 3 boxes of the “Trifecta.” A massive thanks to Blair and Lisa for all of their work coordinating, executing, feeding, and planning.
While we participated in all of that excitement on Saturday, the annual football Hall of Fame induction ceremony was taking place in Canton, Ohio. A couple of very poignant sentences from Drew Brees, quarterback who took the New Orleans Saints to the Superbowl:
“New Orleans … You accepted me. You embraced me. You believed in me. But more importantly, you entrusted me with the soul of the city. And I would have died to protect that calling!”
And in even more poignant news for me, the EDS headquarters building in Plano, TX was imploded. I worked there off an on for many years, starting shortly after it opened. It’s hard to believe there wasn’t a continuing use for all that space.
Sami, having proven himself very reliable on Saturday night, transported us in style back to the Austin airport for our flight home. I chuckled at this album display in the airport from local artists – that’s Christopher Cross at the top left and that album has both hit songs that I shared earlier.
Jon Cleary, wonderful English born piano player who has resided in New Orleans for 40 years and is an expert on all things funky NOLA style piano, has an album coming soon. This was recorded from a solo show at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Hard to believe he sold that out and plays in small venues in his adopted home town.
“I’ve played music to crowds at the Hollywood Bowl, Sydney Opera House and Bertha’s Bon Ton Lounge on Basin Street – all sophisticated, high-class joints. But there’s nothing that gets the spine all atingle and the funk juices bubbling quite like the prospect of getting down at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Fortunately, someone had the good sense to roll tape on that special evening last year, and the result, for your delectation, is a new solo live album that’s coming out on October 2nd!“
A later post from Cleary as he responds to a “badge” from Facebook to congratulate him on being an “emerging” artist:
“It’s not without a degree of curiosity, and even some slight alarm, that I learn today that I’m ‘emerging’.
Just to set the record straight, the last thing you want to do in New Orleans right now – if you have an air-conditioning unit that works – is to ‘emerge’. It’s too bloody hot outside. I will only emerge from the cool comfort of the red room in my house if there’s a life threatening emergency or if my manager Reed calls and invites me to join him for a cold Guinness in the equally cool environs of Markey’s Bar on Royal Street.
Editor’s note: Reed will call.
So, you can imagine my surprise on discovering today that Mark Zuckerberg has announced to the world that:
1) I am apparently a ‘talent’. This is very flattering, Mark. Thank you for the kindly compliment.
2) That I am ‘emerging’. A blatant untruth.
All this, and the further bombshell that Mr Zuckerberg, in his infinite kindness, wisdom and good taste, is awarding me a special ‘badge’. A badge! I do hope that it’s an especially big and shiny one.
I started playing music when I was 5, started playing in public when was 11, started getting paid for gigs when I was 14 and now, at the age, of 63, apparently it’s official, I’m finally emerging.
Mark, I know you’re a clever chap, and I hate to disappoint you, especially after the nice badge and everything, but, honestly, trust me, I’m not emerging, I’m staying indoors as much as possible, here on the couch, where it’s nice and cool. I’m not going anywhere (except perhaps the afore-mentioned Markey’s. Reed?)”
And finally (we’re skipping the Reading portion this week as I have made light progress) Robert Glasper does Radiohead, “Everything in its right place.”