Austin - 1st Thursday

In Austin on the 1st Thursday of the month we were reminded to Keep Austin Weird. That is an ongoing theme that recently was supported with a 5K run. H and D volunteered, making up goodie bags and supplying the runners with shirts, gear, water, etc.

First Thursday is an institution that brings a lot of people to South Congress Street (that same street where the bats leave the bridge in the evening). People gather and walk along the section of the street that contains a lot of shops with eclectic merchandise, a variety of bars and restaurants, and, for the night, a lot of music.

Here are a few pictures, starting with a view back toward the center of town along Congress Street.

There is music of all sorts. Rock and roll was playing in this bar.

















Continuing down the street we saw these ladies being interviewed by a local station. Not sure what they represented.

Then we came up on a street group playing the blues.

There were a lot of different kinds of people around, everything from old time hippies to goths to just plain strange people ("not that there's anything wrong with that!")

Up the street was a band doing heavy metal. Without a bass they found themselves unable to kick ass, though.

We ARE in the west, even if Austin is pretty hip.

There were even some Brazilian foot boxing (capoeira) type people.

















And, finally, the Austin Motel sign. Yep, it really look like it!