The tallest yet

Here you see the Independent Building, looming over the new library. This towering structure will be the tallest residential-only building west of the Mississippi when it is done. We all call it the Jenga Building for obvious reasons.

Listening in Fashion

This woman was wearing a carefully crafted outfit for the Blanton Museum SoundSpace Event

Big Buildings, Big Businesses

The one on the left is going to be a major Google installation. "Stacker of data for the nation," huh? The building still being worked on to the right will have Facebook offices. 

Tribute to Miguel

Our friend (and everyone else's, too) Miquel Ravago died recently. This portrait by artist Roi James in the restaurant he co-founded (Fonda San Miguel in Austin) is surrounded by candles and flowers in his honor. We will all miss him.

A big pour!

Yes, another construction shot, but this one is kind of amazing. With these huge devices, they can pour concrete on these huge buildings so quickly.

Ten Years Later

Ten years ago today we started this blog with a picture of the Ballet Austin building which was under construction. That picture, looking east, showed the AMLI on Second building still under construction. Our building was just rising up looking the other direction. Looking west today from that spot, ten years later, you can see our building on the right, occupied now for about nine years. You can see a building under construction just to the left of that. This is the Independent Condominiums which will rise across the creek to be the tallest building in Austin. To the left of that, you can see the completed Seaholm Condominiums. The cranes across Nueces from the Ballet are for an office building called Third+Shoal. It's amazing what a difference ten years makes.

Men Working

It's not all done by machine. The building going up where the Austin Music Hall used to be was pouring columns. Those guys are guiding the funnel into the forms. The poster on the fence (lower left) shows what the office building will ultimately look like.

Anvil Cloud

Jackie caught this anvil cloud from the balcony of her apartment.

Observing the New Blanton Gallery

The Blanton Museum has reorganized and hung its main collection. These two viewers made a nice tableau when we visited. I love it when the visitors and their clothing and the art and colors in the gallery make a sort of painting together.

The Love Keeps Popping Up

Discovered this new portrait mural on the side of a building on South Congress.

Getting on up there!

The office building and the hotel to the south of our condo tower are "coming out of the ground." Here is a new shot of the site.