Good Times

For my Birthday this year my dearest, sweetest most generous friend Mary came to Austin for a visit. Over the last twenty some odd years Mary and I have shared sun kissed days in SoCal, cool urban nights in NoCal, collegiate romps in Chico, awe inspiring sojourns to Europe and countless soul bearing conversations and belly laughs. We were traveling very light and did not take a single picture this visit but here are some shots from previous adventures followed by a summary of our brief but delightful Austin experience.

Fountain and Italians Austrian Horses and Wind
Sweaters and Hats Golden Gate Park
We Started with a nosh at Mullberry followed by a show at Lambert's where we caught the tail end of Gary Clark Jr's (one of the most accomplished young guitarists in the country and star of John Sayles movie Honeydripper) charming set and the beginning of the too loud Latin funk band Brownout (subset of Grupo Fantasma who recently backed the artist formerly known as Prince).

The next day before we looped the trail around Lady Bird Lake we witnessed a shaggy handcuffed dude running at full speed down an embankment and through the creek shouting "Viva Revolution... I love my Dog." While the cop took off his shoe's to cross the creek the dripping wet escapee passed us and kindly said, "Howdy. This probably doesn't look too good."

Our afternoon delights included lunch at Cafe Luz's for macrobiotic eats under the shade of a big Oak tree and a spa manicure at Polish. We then checked in at our downtown hotel where we primped for the night. Parkside Restaurant's rooftop patio provided the perfect vantage point to view 6th Street's Mardi Gras preparations. The food was delicious as always but the waiter was too eager to join our private girl party. Our jaunty walk across town to La Zona Rosa gave us a few more precious minutes to chat and gear up for the Lucinda Williams show. Awwhhhh.... Lucinda, whose backing band opened with instrumental covers including Erotic City by Prince and Led Zeppelin's What Can I Do, which was a delightful tease. Lucinda's set was peppered with songs and anecdotes related to her experiences in Austin. At fifty-five Lucinda has earned her rock star stripes and put on a hell of a show. Mary and I sang and danced and hooted are heads off.

After a long sleep in a dark hotel room we headed to East Austin to catch up with Mary's friend from her elementary school days in Dallas. We were treated to a tour of her urban farm where we met a hipster chicken farmer that was due to give a "chicken processing" demonstration to some richie, foodie, greenie folk with the chef from Dai Due supper club. I am delighted to know this gang of gardeners and look forward to spending my Thursday evenings at the farm. Starting in April they'll be hosting a farmers market with music and cocktails by the Tipsy Texan's.

After Taco's at Pan y Vino (YUM) I bid Mary farewell at the airport and drove away, humming last nights tunes and thinking how unbelievably thankful I am for our friendship. Even tho I'm turning 38 with Mary I feel like I'm 17.