AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics

[kingkirbythe....]

Originally Posted by migol24

That taller version of Frost Tower looks a lot like the BoA in Charlotte.

Isn't there a 1000 foot tall frost bank tower doppelgänger in Dubai?

[KevinFromTexas]

There are also the two Frost Bank buildings in Corpus Christi. The 188 foot, 5 story Frost Bank Regional Headquarters, and the older Frost Bank Plaza which is 336 feet with 23 floors. That one was Corpus Christi's tallest from 1983 to 1988.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=...AAAAAdAAAAABAD

https://www.ccbiznews.com/news/ed-ra...corpus-christi

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/bui...ank-bldg/10805

[Echostatic]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

Isn't there a 1000 foot tall frost bank tower doppelgänger in Dubai?

Marina 101 is the second tallest building in Dubai, at 1394'

[DougRockstead]

[QUOTE=kingkirbythe....;9682578]

Originally Posted by DougRockstead

I think you double entendre-ed there?

Totally!

[kingkirbythe....]

Originally Posted by Echostatic

Marina 101 is the second tallest building in Dubai, at 1394'

That's it!

[kingkirbythe....]

Toxin harmful to dogs found in Austin's Barking Springs algae sample

https://www.statesman.com/story/news...e/65380878007/

Algae samples taken at Barking Springs, a popular wading area downstream from Austin's iconic Barton Springs Pool, have tested positive for a potent neurotoxin after the city earlier this month reported that a dog had died July 10 within an hour of swimming there.

Austin's Watershed Protection Department, in a statement Friday night said the presence of dihydroanatoxin-a increases the likelihood that the dog ingested harmful algae.

"Dihydroanatoxin-a is the same toxin that was present in algae in 2019 when several dogs died after swimming in Lady Bird Lake," the department said.

So far this summer, the city has found toxins in algae samples, but not water samples at its monitoring locations, which include three sites on Lady Bird Lake and three sites on Lake Austin, including one at Emma Long Metropolitan Park. Watershed Protection Department staff have been checking the sites every other week throughout the summer.

Earlier this summer, the city of Austin also detected toxins in algae samples at all monitoring locations on Lady Bird Lake, including Red Bud Isle, Auditorium Shores and Edward Rendon Sr. Metro Park, and at Emma Long Metropolitan Park on Lake Austin. Algae samples collected from Lady Bird Lake on June 27 and from Emma Long on June 29 contained homoanatoxin, a neurotoxin.

Last summer, the city began treating 22 acres near Red Bud Isle, upstream on Lady Bird Lake, with a claylike substance called Phoslock to slow or stop the growth of toxin-producing blue-green algae. This year, the Watershed Protection Department expanded its use of Phoslock to the north shore of the lake in East Austin, from Interstate 35 to the lagoon by the Festival Beach boat ramp.

Harmful algae is more likely to be found along shorelines and in warm, still water. Barking Springs, a public spot for people to bring their dogs to play and swim free of charge, sits on the other side of a spillway at the downstream end of Barton Springs Pool, which requires a fee to enter and does not allow non-service dogs.

"Because of the rapidly flowing water, Barking Springs is less likely to have a harmful algae bloom than slower-moving waterways," the Watershed Protection Department said in their statement Friday. "However, the harmful algae was found next to and attached to rocks in pockets of still water outside of the main path of the water. It underscores the fact that harmful algae can be present in any natural waterway in Central Texas."

Because the toxins are not in the water samples and only found in the algae, "exposure would occur by handling or ingesting algae," city officials said.

"Ingestion of toxins in algae may be fatal. Dogs may be exposed by drinking the water, eating the algae or licking it off their fur," according to the city. "People can have symptoms from these toxins as well. Because humans are less likely to ingest the algae, the risk is lower."

IF you do take your dog swimming, make sure to rinse yourself and your dog off after swimming and keep your dog from licking its fur before you rinse it off. If your dog becomes sick after swimming, take it to a veterinarian immediately.

Symptoms of algae poisoning in dogs can pop up minutes to hours after they are exposed to harmful algae, or after they've ingested it. Symptoms include excessive drooling, vomiting or diarrhea, foaming at the mouth, jaundice or an enlarged liver, blood in their urine or dark urine, stumbling, loss of appetite, abdominal tenderness, progression of muscle twitches or respiratory paralysis.

Humans may experience a rash, irritation, swelling, sores, a fever, headache, eye irritation, or gastrointestinal, neurological, ear or respiratory issues.

"People should not drink or ingest water directly from Central Texas lakes or from any springs or creeks," the city said. "Do not get in the water or allow your pets to swim or drink the water if it is warm or stagnant or if you see scum, film or mats of algae."

If you or your pet have sudden, unexplained illness after swimming or signs of poisoning, call your medical provider or veterinarian right away or the Texas Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. You may also report the suspected exposure to harmful algae to the city of Austin using English or Spanish forms available at AustinTexas.gov/Algae.

[kingkirbythe....]

How Austin's new cat cafe wants to change what pet adoption looks like

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/r...-lamar-austin/

Watch your step when you walk into the newest cafe, Purr-fecto Cat Lounge, on South Lamar. Staffed by about a dozen friendly cats, there’s always someone underfoot, lounging on a fuzzy surface, or scaling the obstacle course on the walls. They mill about the pillow-lined room with lots of cat toys and snoozing stations, choosing their favorite human visitors from whom to demand attention and scritches.

Because cats aren’t exactly hard workers, Purr-fecto Cat Lounge’s drinks are made and delivered by Irie Bean, the coffee shop next door. While sipping a kitty-themed drink (the hot “Choco-cat” or “Cat’s Pajama” latte), visitors can get acquainted with the adoptable residents on loan from the Sunshine Cat Fund Rescue and Fuzzy Texan Animal Rescue.

Owner Lupita Foster wants people to spend more time getting to know cats before adopting them. She saw the effects firsthand when her fiancé fell in love with their shelter cat, Romeo, while the couple was volunteering. Romeo had been called the “problem child” and barred from meeting people because he was too territorial. But as the pair spent time with him, they found his sassy attitude more charming than they could have guessed, eventually taking him in as their own.

“Here you're going to be able to see — kind of like speed dating — who you're vibing [with], and who you've got a crush on,” says Foster. “Maybe you’ve got a crush on one, but she's not vibing with you.”

The vibes must have been immaculate during opening week; five cats have already been claimed by Friday, July 22, going home with their crushes as soon as the application is approved or boarding at the lounge until things are ready at home. One such cat, a melty black and white kitten named Zobby, clicked with a visitor right away, and is enjoying a little more time with his brother until he departs. Zobby is a charmer, and even though other people have asked to adopt him, Foster respects the bond between the original pair.

Although, obviously, the goal is a perfect meet-cute, hanging out in real life also ensures cats don’t go home with the wrong people. One visitor came in specifically to see Ice Man, a five-toed black kitten always on the move, but realized she (Oops! Not all ice men are men!) was too skittish to live in an apartment with her dog. Even though Ice Man didn’t get adopted, she gets love and attention from other visitors until her time to shine comes. And the hopeful adopter will keep stopping by until she meets a perfect match.

“The idea of this cafe was for them to find a home. But also, if not, to get a lot of love,” says Foster. “You're going to have a lot of people that want to cuddle with them. She's enjoying that you're petting her, and that's going to make her day.”

Visitors book by time slot, with no advance notice necessary, and since the lounge leaves the adoption paperwork to the rescue organizations, it runs on affordable booking fees. Hanging out with cat friends supports the business just as much as taking them home. To encourage more of that community-space feeling, Purr-fecto will soon offer yoga (August 13 in partnership with Oak + Lotus Yoga), painting, and actual speed dating for cat lovers who want to make sure their date will appreciate their fuzzy roommates at home. The space is also slated to open up to kids younger than 3, as soon as Foster can make sure everyone is handling the cats safely.

“New York has many [cat cafes]. Dallas has many, San Antonio has many, and we didn't have any,” says Foster. “This will be the perfect space for all these kitties to have opportunities just like Romeo had. We gave it to him because we were there the whole time.”

Purr-fecto Cat Lounge is located at 2300 S. Lamar Blvd., Unit 104. Memberships and appointments (starting at $15) with or without intent to adopt are available at purrfectocatlounge.com.

[kingkirbythe....]

What are 'Dream Pants'? Find out at Austin's glowing Creek Show 2022

https://www.statesman.com/story/ente...k/65384985007/

While November is a ways away, we do love having something to look forward to.

Mark your calendars for Creek Show, the annual art stroll featuring light-up installations along Waller Creek. It will run Nov. 11-20 this year.

The show is free and starts at Ninth Street and ends at Waterloo Park, 500 E. 12th St. Live music, food, drinks and activities will be available at Waterloo Park each night. Last year's show was contained in Waterloo Park. Organizers say for 2022, they are doing a combination of installations in the park and along the water, which was the traditional route when Creek Show launched in 2014.

The show is open each night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and while it's free to attend, you will need to make a reservation online. Reservations will open this fall.

This year's show features installations that include dragonflies, a piece called "Dream Pants," and floating lights.

[kingkirbythe....]

Austin council moves to put $350 million housing bond on November ballot

https://www.statesman.com/story/news...t/65386109007/

In November, it looks like Austin's voters will have the chance to approve a second housing bond in four years, this one for $350 million.

The Austin City Council on Thursday gave initial approval to putting the bond on the ballot and established the amount, which had become a source of debate. Initially proposed for $300 million, Mayor Steve Adler said earlier in the week that he hoped to increase the amount to $350 million — a full $100 million higher than the city's 2018 housing bond.

The council in August will need to give final approval to an ordinance and language for the ballot proposal.

Community housing advocates said they felt confident voters will approve the higher amount.

[kingkirbythe....]

Austin builder unveils sleek prefabricated luxury homes starting at $600,000

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/r...homes/#slide=0

A Buda homebuilder has brought a high-end approach to a type of housing that has often been lumped into the low-end category.

Escobedo Group has introduced a “panelized” construction system that enables a luxury home to be prefabricated and then installed on a homesite within roughly five months. So far, more than 70 of the company’s DARIO Villas homes have been built.

Over the years, prefab construction has frequently been associated with cheap, mass-produced housing. Following World War II, the British embraced prefab construction to address a severe housing shortage. Amid the 19th century’s California Gold Rush, prospectors relied on prefab homes to quickly provide shelter.

In recent years, prefab homes have gained fans as construction techniques have grown more sophisticated.

[kingkirbythe....]

Yup, it's still illegal to swim in Lady Bird Lake. Here's why.

https://www.kut.org/austin/2018-06-1...lake-heres-why

When it's hot in Austin, you just want to go somewhere to cool off, somewhere you can take a swim and forget the oppressive heat that lingers for six months of the year.

There are lots of great spots.

But there's one place you definitely cannot go swimming: Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake, if you're OG).

Swimming in Austin's "crown jewel" (or at least one of them) is banned by city ordinance. It says:

§ 8-5-48 - SWIMMING IN TOWN LAKE.
A person may not swim in Town Lake. This prohibition does not apply to a person:
(1) performing an official duty as an officer or employee of the city;
(2) attempting to rescue or recover another person;
(3) performing dredging or construction work authorized by the city council; or
participating in a public event or exhibition authorized by the city council.
Source: 1992 Code Section 14-1-11; Ord. 031009-11; Ord. 031211-11.

So you pretty much can't go in the water — unless you have special permission or are trying to save someone from drowning. Falling out of your canoe doesn't count.

[kingkirbythe....]

You could own Doc's Drive-In movie theater for almost $4M

https://www.statesman.com/story/ente...r/65385754007/

The property was recently listed for sale through Douglas Elliman Realty. The asking price is $3,999,000. According to the listing, that includes everything onsite at the drive-in theater, including a commercial kitchen, three movie-themed casitas and a “subterranean” speakeasy-style private club.

"Me and my wife have been doing all of this the whole time, and we didn't know we were going to be able to have a family, and we're blessed with a beautiful child,” Denny tells the Statesman. “Sometimes life takes you in different directions.”

[kingkirbythe....]

Jacob's Well has stopped flowing again. That's a problem for western Hays County.

https://www.kut.org/energy-environme...-flowing-again

Jacob's Well, a beloved natural swimming hole in the Wimberley Valley, has stopped flowing for the fifth time in its recorded history.

Parks department officials said the lack of flow is a result of the ongoing drought and increased levels of groundwater pumping. The news comes at a time when Central Texas is dealing with one of the hottest and driest summers on record and bracing for even more heat and drought conditions in the coming months.

"This is really concerning," said Jay Taylor, the lead parks specialist with the Hays County Parks Department. "If you watch the weather, they're not predicting any rainfall in the near future. In fact, they're predicting this heat bubble ... [will] extend further out into August and maybe even September right now."

The well also stopped flowing briefly last year, for what officials said was the fourth time in its recorded history.

Earlier this summer, Hays County suspended swimming at Jacob's Well, citing threats of bacteria and other pollutants, as well as poor visibility conditions. Swimming remains off limits for the foreseeable future, but the park is still open daily for hiking.

But Jacob's Well is used for much more than just swimming. Robin Gary, the managing director of the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, said the lack of flow at Jacob's Well signals groundwater levels are low in the area.

"They're definitely declining," Gary said. "[And] western Hays County is very groundwater-dependent. In fact, there's no surface water supplies in western Hays County."

Gary said that the lack of groundwater is a concern for everyone. Whether people get their water from a private well or from a water utility, everyone depends on it.

Jacob’s Well is also the headwaters for Cypress Creek, which flows through downtown Wimberley. Locals there have warned that Jacob's Well drying up could have major impacts on the local economy, which is dependent on the tourism that these natural resources bring.

"We're losing a lot of fish, vegetation, trees, wildlife, things like that, because the water levels are pretty much nonexistent starting at Jacob's Well," Taylor said. "And it's just going to get worse as you go down the creek."

Taylor said that right now the county is trying to educate people on water conservation. The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District is asking people and local water utilities to conserve water right now.

"During times of drought, people like to overwater their plants, trees, gardens, which is the exact opposite of what you should be doing," he said. "Unfortunately, you have to let your lawns go brown or whatever."

He said, at this point, it's going to take a lot more than 1 or 2 inches of rain to replenish the aquifer, and ultimately the well.

"We are going to need some sort of flooding, minor flooding situation, flash flooding, in order to sustain the flow coming from Jacob's Well," he said. "The Trinity Aquifer just needs a lot of water in it right now. And a normal rain ... isn't going to cut it. It's going to need to be significant."

[kingkirbythe....]

Swimming halted at Blue Hole in Wimberley; ban will extend if conditions don't improve

https://www.statesman.com/story/ente...s/65388812007/

Swimming at Blue Hole in Wimberley is suspended until Aug. 15 because of unsafe conditions, the city's Parks and Recreation Department announced Monday.

Officials will monitor the water; if bacteria and visibility conditions remain unsafe, swimming will be suspended for another two weeks after Aug. 15. Updates will be sent via email to those who already have reservations booked at Blue Hole.

"We are unable to predict if Blue Hole will open again for the 2022 season," the department posted in an announcement on Facebook and its website.

Refunds will be given for people who have swimming and private reservations through Aug. 15.

All other activities at Blue Hole, including hiking and biking trails, playgrounds and sports fields, remain open.

This is the second popular Central Texas swimming hole near Wimberley to close to swimming this summer.

In June, Hays County suspended swimming at Jacob's Well because the water had threats of high bacteria levels, other pollutants and poor visibility making it unsafe for swimming. Last week, water flow at Jacob’s Well ceased for the fourth time in recorded history.

[Tyrone Shoes]

This has nothing to do with skyscrapers...nothing to do with politics....nothing to do with the economy....but it does address one of my favorite things.....Whiskey.
The Robb Report (online) published a list of
The 11 Best Cask-Finished American Whiskeys to Drink Right Now

and Hye, Texas' own Garrison Brothers’ Balmorhea made the list. Hye is on US 290 west Austin and west of Johnson City.

Garrison Brothers Balmorhea
A cask finish doesn’t always have to be in a completely different type of barrel to have an effect on the whiskey. Case in point is Texas distillery Garrison Brothers’ Balmorhea expression, which is a high-proof (115) bourbon that spends four years in new charred American oak, before being rebarreled for an additional year in another new oak cask. This essentially jumpstarts the interaction between whiskey and wood all over again, leading to big notes of vanilla, caramel, tannin and spiced fruit. If the Texas climate weren’t enough to make an impact on flavor during maturation, this finishing process seals the deal.


https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/11-b...190000836.html

[kingkirbythe....]

Iconic Austin costume shop Lucy in Disguise to close after 38 years on South Congress

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/c...outh-congress/

It will soon be time to say goodbye to another legendary Austin business: Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds on South Congress Avenue.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, August 2, the iconic costume shop announced plans to shutter by the end of the year.

"After 38 years of business, Lucy in Disguise will close at the end of this year. Our owner, Jenna Radtke, opened the store in 1984 and since then, the store has survived a lot of changes and grown into an Austin institution," the statement read. "There are not a lot of year-round costume shops in the world and we're very grateful to our customers for their ongoing support. We've loved being a source of creativity and inspiration for your parties, plays, and productions. It has been a pleasure to fulfill your costuming dreams and fantasies. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

The costume shop will be moving to a "purchase only" model starting on August 31, with rentals ceasing after August 30.

"At the moment, we still have plenty of stock and are ready to have one last Halloween with all of you," the store wrote. "As we will not be restocking, we recommend coming in early if you'd like to shop with us and we certainly hope you will!"

The store has been a staple on South Congress for decades, inspiring tourists and locals alike with wall-to-wall costumes, jewelry and accessories galore. It opened on April 1, 1984.



I want the Carmen Miranda zebra for my own personal use.




Lots of fun pics in the Statesman article.

https://www.statesman.com/story/ente...p/65389897007/

[kingkirbythe....]

Ellsworth Kelly's 'Austin' to close on UT campus for 2 months to remove mold

The artwork, a 2,715-square-foot building, opened in 2018.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/enterta...d-17361761.php

The Blanton Museum announced this week that its monumental Ellsworth Kelly piece, a standalone building titled "Austin," will close after black streaks of mold were found on its exterior. The resulting conservation work means that the artwork — the building itself — will be closed for almost two months, beginning on September 7, with a re-opening tentatively planned for November 2. The museum says that the dates are subject to change.

According to the Blanton, this type of mold growth is typical of limestone buildings on campus. Katie Bruton, the Blanton's public relations and media manager, says that the mold was found in spring 2020, but the museum waited until further construction on new Blanton grounds was completed to address the conservation issue.

Bruton says that materials for safely removing the mold have been tested, but the mold has not. The cost of repairing "Austin" comes from the original gift agreement of the artwork, which called for ongoing conservation and preservation of the piece.

[kingkirbythe....]

Everything you need to know about Austin Pride 2022

https://www.statesman.com/story/ente...x/65400581007/

A lot has happened since Austin Pride last brought its colors to the capital of Texas in 2019. The coronavirus pandemic has threatened community bonds and stymied the annual celebration twice. Development has disrupted the Warehouse District heart of the city’s LGBTQ bars. A wave of policies in Texas and across the country have undermined the rights of LGBTQ people.

But LGBTQ pride gatherings have also caught on in smaller surrounding communities. The inaugural Gay Pride Festival was held in Taylor last year; 2022 has seen Round Rock, Leander, Bastrop and Pflugerville follow suit.

Austin Pride's 2022 festivities kick off this week and continue through next weekend. Seeing families gathered for Pride “solidifies what your community actually is,” said Beau Seddon, who owns the queer-focused salon Scissor Sisters Hair Show in Austin. “This community is a lifeline for us, it’s how we connect and normalize ourselves.”

[kingkirbythe....]

The 2022 AIA Austin Homes Tour Comes Back to Life for Its 36th Year

https://austin.towers.net/the-2022-a...its-36th-year/

This October, the Austin chapter of the American Institute of Architects will host its 36th annual AIA Austin Homes Tour as a fully in-person event, following past virtual and hybrid versions of the tour staged in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic concerns. The event’s return to form as one of the nation’s longest-running celebrations of residential architecture features self-guided tours of new and renovated homes around Austin, designed by a number of prominent local studios.

[OU812]

Things that make you go, huh??
https://www.naturalnews.com/2022-08-...dna-brain.html