keepaustinwierd

Award-winning American-Statesman photographer Jay Janner has taken countless photos of Austin over the last 20 years. See before and after photos. statesman.com/story/news/loc…

I took this photo of the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue on Lady Bird Lake in Austin in 2011, illuminating Stevie with a flashlight over which I placed a blue filter. 13 years ago! The skyline has changed so much since then. Looking at this now, it's somehow hard for me to believe that it was me who took this. I mean, I know in my rational mind that I went down there at about midnight, set up my tripod/camera etc... but it feels like me in another life. Isn't memory a funny thing?

Some great Austin stories. TinyTalksAustin instagram.com/tinytalksausti…

One of my favorite shots: The breathtaking sight of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerging from under Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk! art.cvsherman.com #austintx #atx #texas #bats #austintexas

Sad news this morning. The legendary Kinky Friedman has died. He was 79. Irreverent, iconoclastic, but with a heart as big as Texas, he lived on his own terms. Truly one of a kind. I'm trying to figure out what my favorite Kinky quote is. Among them: 1) "If elected, the first thing I'll do is demand a recount." 2) "A fool and his money are soon elected." 3) "There's a fine line between fiction and non-fiction, and I believe I snorted it in 1976." 4) "I believe musicians can run this state a lot better than politicians. We just won't get much done in the morning." 5) "Remember: Y'all is singular. All y'all is plural. All y'all's is plural possessive." 6) “Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.” 7) "Friedman's just another word for nothing left to lose." Kinky was not a native Texan, but he once said that he had to come to Texas because we were the only state that would put up with his nonsense. It was here that he caught up to his future. There will never be another like him. This photo of Kinky taken by Carlos Lowry.

Give me a GIF of your favorite moment in your favorite movie I'll go first

ACL FEST 2024 😎 3-Day Tickets for both weekends go on sale today at 12pm CT! aclfest.com

Wow! We miss you 1993 Austin,Tx. @Andylanger those were the days. Thx @kurt_loder @alisonstewart

Bathing beauties at Barton Springs in Austin, 1920s.

Ready!

The very first Schlotzky's sandwich shop on Congress Avenue in Austin, 1971. They have accepted quite a bit of my money over the years. This building is now Amy's Ice Cream.

In advance of my embarkation on the story of this photo you need to know that, before there was a Lake Austin, there was another lake at the same site named Lake McDonald, which was a reservoir formed by the construction of Austin Dam between 1890 and 1893. In 1900 a heavy rainstorm overwhelmed and destroyed the first Austin Dam, causing extensive flooding and also causing Lake McDonald to vanish. The dam began to be rebuilt in 1915, but repairs were abandoned because of a contract dispute, and the unfinished dam was again destroyed in a heavy storm later that year. In 1938 the Lower Colorado River Authority began building the Tom Miller Dam; the dam was completed and the lake filled in 1939. Got that? Okay. This photo shows the well-known steamboat Ben Hur, which was an iconic vessel that plied the waters near Austin from 1893 to 1900. Managed by the Lake Navigation Company, it embarked on two daily voyages covering a 60-mile circuit to Lake McDonald’s farthest point, offering both a daytime journey and a nocturnal cruise that concluded at midnight. The steamboat was a beloved attraction for both visitors and local residents. Constructed in 1892, the Ben Hur measured 181 feet in length and had a beam of 59 feet. It boasted impressive machinery, including four boilers each rated at 1,000 horsepower, massive 22-foot wheels, three expansive decks, and skylights that adorned the passenger cabins. The steamboat could accommodate up to 2,000 individuals. The Ben Hur was not just a mode of transport; it was a venue for entertainment and social gatherings. Guests could enjoy meals, dance to music, and occasionally be treated to Vaudeville performances. The steamboat was known for hosting special events like picnics and excursions and even served as a platform for distinguished statesmen, opera shows, celebrated orchestras, and global regattas. Tragically, the steamboat met its demise due to the aforementioned catastrophic 1900 Austin dam disaster, often referred to as the failure of “The Great Granite Dam.” The dam’s collapse emptied the Lake McDonald reservoir and plunged Austin into an extended period without electricity, following a deluge that surged eleven feet above the dam’s summit. Decades later, remnants of the old dam remain, strewn across the riverbed and now part of Red Bud Isle. The Ben Hur itself was found fragmented on a hillside. Within months, it was scavenged, its engines extracted and sold off. Over time, the remaining pieces of the steamboat vanished as the wood and timbers were repurposed for various building endeavors. This great photo courtesy the Austin History Center, Austin Public Library Check it out the next time you find yourself in the capital city with a couple of hours to spare. It's a super interesting place! A GREAT photo, don't y'all think?

What the heck, #Austin! Another body found. Town Lake aka Lady Bird Lake aka "The Train Station" #Yellowstone #YellowstoneTV #ripwheeler #RIP #serialkiller

An update to Blues on the Green.

You have ~ 31 hours to raid HEB of 30 gallons of milk, 40 dozen eggs, 85 pounds of flour, and 256 cans of Dr Pepper

SIGNED ✅ @cspives23 has officially signed with the @CleGuardians ! #PiratesInThePros 🏴‍☠️

Really cool photo of 183 and Burnet Road in Austin, 1976.

Cedar in Austin's like

ACL Festival returns October 4-6 & 11-13, 2024 😎☀️ Lock in your 3-Day Tickets for the lowest possible price THIS Thursday, 12/7 at 10am CT for as little as $25 down! aclfest.com