Lettuce, wrapped

We went to a private dinner before the Ballet Austin performance of Sarah's Songs last night. The salad had a creative presentation -- the crouton was wrapped around the romaine lettuce. You had to tip it over and break off pieces. The ballet performance was magnificent, by the way. A very nice evening. 

It's that time of year

We love The Nutcracker -- and it's back again this year. Ballet Austin always puts on a great production with lots of happy kids making their debuts as mice and angels. The professional dancers have a good time as well.

Retirement? Well, from dancing.

Our friend Aara Krumpe is a Ballet Austin dancer. We went to her retirement party -- we've known her for the entire 20 years she has been with Ballet Austin.

Great article for Ballet Austin

This full page article on Ballet Austin's performance of Grimm Tales ran in the Wall Street Journal before the show.

Teach your dancers well.

Today is Theme Day -- "Teach" is the subject. The Ballet Austin headquarters building is across the street from our condo tower. We often walk by and see the dancers in class. Here is a photo that Linda shot of some dancers being put through their paces and sharpening their craft with instruction by the artistic staff. If you want to see how others interpreted this theme, click here.

Mother Ginger Won't Give Up!

He wore the makeup home. (And we walked over Lady Bird Lake to get home!) Yes!

Mother Ginger After

Getting his makeup on in his dressing room.

Mother Ginger Before

I'm a little late in posting this, but back in December during Ballet Austin's "Nutcracker" season, FFP was Mother Ginger one night. This was the entrance to his dressing room which also had a nice sitting area, a make-up chair, etc. as befitted his star status.

Ballet Austin headquarters

That low building in the middle of this photo houses Ballet Austin. What a brilliant move we made buying this property before the mega-boom hit. I have been on its board of directors since 1998.

Fete accompli

My partner in crime takes her seat at the Ballet Austin Fete. It was a grand occasion and we had a terrific time.

A table set for a king -- or dancers

The decorators at the Ballet Austin Fete outdid themselves this year. What a festive party!

Choc it up!

These tasty treats were being served at a surprise birthday party for a good friend a few weeks ago. Dig in! Tempting indeed!

We were sponsors back in this day

I think that this poster is from 1996 or 1997-- at any rate, we sponsored this performance trough our ad agency called Good Right Arm Advertising, as you can see. I had not noticed this poster on the wall at Ballet Austin until just a few weeks ago.

Dancers at rest

When you see them like this, just after a show, it's hard to believe these fit young people--the professional troupe of Ballet Austin-- were just on stage in fanciful costumes performing "Alice In Wonderland."

Alice is always a wonder

Our friend Jaime Witts danced the lead role in Alice in Wonderland the other night. What a performance!

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.

Flamingo-- not flamenco

This flamingo head is part of the costumery for the Ballet Austin production of Alice in Wonderland.

Amazing Philanthropists

Sarah and Ernest Butler (right in picture) at the Ballet Austin Fete after establishing a three million dollar endowment for developing new work. Stephen Mills (artistic director) and Cookie Ruiz (executive director) are also shown. The Butlers have a knack for placing their donations for the arts in places where they can do enormous good for the community's cultural life long after we are all gone.

After Cinderella

Lots of people wanted to go to the ball! I took this photo after Ballet Austin's Cinderella not long ago.

Backstage at the Nutcrcaker

These lovely young people are Butler Fellows at Ballet Austin. The Butlers, who made this generous donation, are shown in the midst of their recipients.