oh, Austin...you're so much fun !!

we rolled into Austin thinking we'd go camping at Pedernales Falls State Park, but after checking the weather and saw that there was torrential down pour in the forecast...well, at least 40% chance of rain...we decided to roll down Congress Ave instead. and did it rain!! we woke to crispy air that woke up our chill bumps, soaked sidewalks with puddles that begged to be jumped over, chirpy birds, trees rustling the left over dew onto our foreheads, people brisking by on their way to work, and the smell of great coffee wafting from Jo's next door, filling our nostrils. wow how i've missed the city, and convenience, and sensory stimuli.

original plans to stay at some friend's house fell through so we wanted to find the cheapest hotel possible, without going too far away from cool ole congress...south congress, to be exact...also dubbed SoCo. The Austin Motel was our only choice. i crossed my fingers for a $69 room all the while thinking "yeah, right, more like $269 in downtown Austin". but it was my birthday and all things great happen when you turn 30. we got a single bed room for $69, tax included brings it to $80. yippee! the next morning we walked next door to Jo's Coffee for an Americano...is was about as good as the coffee as El Peppercorn...and booked another night at the motel. they moved us to a double double bed room for only $100, tax included. next time i come to Austin, which will be in 3ish short weeks, i'm booking here. it's got history with the local prostitutes before this area cleaned up it's act. i've heard lots of stories already. now considered the hip street, tourism row, place to go...The Austin Motel kept some of it's quirks while sprucing up the place...

an apron for a window curtain                                              

flamingos in Texas















 the Oregon coast

                                                                                     local art

cats on roofs

                                                                                    junk yard gardens

next door is The Snack Bar...Diner by day for breakfast and lunch. Lounge by night for eclectic snacks, discerning wine, beer and organic coffee. open late late. i had a weird cocktail of grapefruit juice, topo chico and a shot of sake...oh so delish.

other neat-o stores up and down congress...my favorite:

Uncommon Objects, no website for samples, but take my word for it...they have a great selection of costume jewelry, stuffed animals (as in taxidermy), lamps, 1930s yacht deck lounge furniture, art deco vanities. the Uncommon Object of my desire, but will have to wait for another (un)birthday, is an antiqued brass chain necklace with glass Czech beads and a tiny pocket knife inlaid with mother-of-pearl dangling from the end. i've never seen anything like it, and there were tons of them! they don't allow photos inside otherwise i'd have stolen a shot.

other places worth my time:
Prototype Vintage
Allen Boots 
Maya 
Bohemia - vintage clothing for men and women. i picked up an adorable red button down adorned by blue prairie flowers for $15
Guero's Taco Bar - great happy hour specials, like $0.25 tamales and $1.00 al pastor mini tacos. also decent margaritas and sidewalk seating.

there were too many places for me to go into every single one, and to be honest i was tuckered out from all the window shopping. but you can check out the neighborhood for a complete listing of boutiques, eateries, and others.

ta-daaa