Gourdough's Doughnuts

http://www.gourdoughs.com/
"Big. Fat. Doughnuts." - they are and it doesn't sound like a bad idea at all right now! I've had 4 out of however many they have on the menu - chocolate coconut (I don't see it on the menu anymore), cinnamon sugar (Naughty & Nice), maple bacon (Flying Pig), and Mama's Cake. Still plenty to try! I've really been drooling over the idea of the fried chicken with honey butter (Mother Clucker - the name doesn't get any better). Fresh doughnuts to order - love it! I just wish the ingredients were organic, free range, local & all that good stuff. Still, it's a great idea and I get excited each time I make going a reality. Can't wait to take my mom here when she visits during the cooler months!

Austin Summer Afternoon

A few weekends ago I was headed to the SOTBM trunk show at Feathers - what a bunch of talented ladies doing their thang! Lots of cool collaborations among designers, jewelry makers (Bloodmilk), unique fashionistas, vintage appreciators, artists, and make-up and beauty makers - perfume oils, lotions & potions for yer soul (Naked Eye Beauty)!

I got some awesome finds at the boutique but, as I always say, it's not just the experience you have at your destination; it's the little adventures on your way to & fro. The dudes plugged in atop the van are Chris Catalena and the Native Americans. Really nice sound and their vibe was enhanced by the crazy Austin sky & warm weather cut through with little temporary rain drops.

Bootleg, Austin

A while back I was on one of my strolls around South Austin and as always and as Mike hilariously parodied my blog posts one day, I "happened upon" this little shoe shop. Bootleg, Austin. It's located in an Airstream trailer. And it's beautiful. The most elegant Airstream I've been in. There are lots of funky, quirky, rock 'n roll, utilitarian, and kitsch trailers being cool on city streets around the country but this one was like a design studio I would have - not totally glam, rather functional, personal, casual but thoughtful.

Its home is on South Congress just north of Perla's restaurant and south of Hotel San Jose. The inside is simple, has neutral tones, and feels spacious enough. The walls are covered in photos, magazine pages of inspiration, and press. This is going to sound bad but stay with me...it reminds me of my bedroom as a preteen but with much more sophisticated taste. The reason I say this is because my walls were covered in my artwork (collages), fashion pages from magazines like Bazaar, Elle, Interview, Hit Parader, Circus, who can remember what other magazines, old t-shirts, and random pulp in general. As I got older I toned it down and didn't cover every square inch of wall and ceiling with anything I ever had or found. What eventually became a tame selection - and the arrangement of things - was just as important as the art itself. And this is where the comparison is validated. The composition of artwork and the content on the walls of Bootleg, Austin as well as the display of shoes is perfectly lovely.

Have I mentioned yet that Sarah, the owner, has a killer collection of shoes in her shop? Really unique selection that you don't see anywhere else. And how striking is she?! What a classic beauty she emanates. Last but not least: check out those shoes! And the carpet - great pattern. Next time you're on South Congress pop in; it's a cool experience.

Vintage and normal wacky stuff in Austin

Love my leisurely days strolling through Austin. Uncommon Objects on South Congress is always like taking a trip in time through different geographic regions so of course I always like to wander in. And merely walking by Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds (also on SoCo) and checking out the window display is like being at the carnival. Kinda fun, kinda creepy. Good.

Coco Coquette on Cesar Chavez has crazy wigs, makeup, and hair accessories. There is a vintage shop, Charm School Vintage (what a great name!) in the front of the converted house (Maison d'Etoil) that always has something killer.

Besides thoroughly enjoying what our local, independent businesses have to offer (literally and aesthetically) I always discover a new spot or piece of urban eye candy while cruising from place to place.

Austin always brings it back home. I love this town. I've always loved travel adventures and the arts and culture that larger cities ooze but I love this freaking town. I've tried to leave a handful of times (growing pains) but now here I am. xo

Uncommon Objects

Maison d'Etoile

LSD (Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds)

Uncommon Objects

Uncommon Objects

Uncommon Objects

Austin Landmarks and Graffiti Art

To me, some of these photos are Austin landmarks ... South Austin landmarks that have been etched in my memory (visually and/or emotionally/psychologically) since the mid nineties. If that sounds cryptic or disturbing, I don't mean it to be. I have so many positive, thoughtful memories from the 17 years I've been here (on & off). Holy moly, that is an unbelievably long time! Many cities have seen their independent businesses disappear - Mom & Pop stores get replaced by big chains. It happened on the drag, here in Austin and it even happened in New York. I always tell myself I need to photograph a sign, building, or business that looks like it's on its last leg here in Austin and sometimes I actually get around to doing it. I got a small handful of them, here. Something else that can quickly disappear - graffiti art. It can quickly get "cleaned" up or replaced by another piece ... so the sense of urgency to capture it before that happens is even stronger. I absolutely am so in love with the graffiti art I saw on this day.

Austin is an amazing city. I think it's changed a lot. I can't tell. I can't tell because I'm in it. That's not true. You know though, how they say it's good to have an outside view of a personal situation? Well, I guess that wouldn't work because if you haven't been here then how would you know? I'll stop being lazy and just talk about it, then. I started writing this so I may as well finish it. It's what I used to say about exercise - Just put your shoes on and the rest will fall into place.

So.

I think there are more hipsters in Austin. More young professionals. Or maybe I've grown up. Maybe it's just a trend (the hipsters) - a sign of the times. Nobody really escapes that anymore. OK, what it really is is that I've had 1/2 a margarita and I totally feel it. So I'm looking around, thinking about the rowdy days with friends - would that fly here? Because although everyone is totally chill and just in their moments, it seems a little stiff. Like being at that Dale Watson concert in New York somewhere between 98 & 01.  Little round jazz tables where Stubb's dirt ground should have been; people hootin' 'n hollerin' and flyin' around. Instead, everyone just sat quietly and watched like we were at the theatre or something. I wore a dress that night that was totally see-through. I didn't realize that or else convinced myself you could only see things in a certain light and it was night time anyway. 

So, has Austin changed? Yeah. But more than that, I've changed. I'm exactly the same as I've always been as far back as I can remember - to about age three or four. I have the same spirit, the same soul. It's hard to explain how I've changed . Do I talk about it as relates to what happens inside of a relationship? That's way too much. Hmm. How I've changed? I have a lot less to react to at this point - maybe. OK, here it is: I have different things to react to now. Oh my god. Life is amazing.