Big Birthday Party for ... Eeyore?

Austin's bizarre. Really, it is. But that shouldn't be surprising for a city that uses "Keep Austin Weird" as an unofficial but widely used motto.

That weirdness was on full display this past Saturday during the annual celebration Austinites call Eeyore's Birthday Party. This year was billed as the 45th annual, although I'm pretty sure it started in the seventies some time. I'm not really sure how to describe what Eeyore's Birthday Party -- or "Eeyore's" for short -- is all about. From what I can tell, it's an excuse for the kooks and goons out there to dress up in costumes (often skimpy or involving insect wings), engage in recreational drug use, form a gigantic drum circle and bow down before the Eeyore of Liberty statue. Oh, and the event, while free, did raise over $15,000 for various nonprofit groups through sales of food, drink and souveniers. But really, it was mostly an excuse to people watch, which is what Rachel and I were there to do. Wanna see what I mean?

Two typical guys

Event security

The drum circle at 2:30 or so

Little drummer boys

Coonhound (Redbone) that we've seen before at Redbud Isle

Eeyore of Liberty

Sweet shoes

Kid in a makeshift Eeyore float

Jesus Christ, Superdelegate

I have no idea what that is!

Girl Oblio

A few of the winged creatures

More visitors, more food, more fun

Rachel's mom came to visit recently, so we spent some time exploring new (to us) Austin sights and revisiting a few old (for us) favorites.

If you like sculpture, you can check out the Elisabet Ney museum, which is tucked away in Austin's Hyde Park neighborhood. Ney was a 19th century European sculptress who rendered the "great men" of frontier Texas in stone. If we've dragged you through the State Capitol, you'll have seen the life-size figures of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston by Ney. She also sculpted a number of European notables, including King Ludwig II of Bavaria, King George V of Hanover, Otto von Bismarck, and Arthur Schopenhauer.

While you're in Hyde Park, step back in time and drive past the Avenue B grocery. Actually, go in. Mr. Avenue B grocery man is really friendly and we hear he makes a mean sandwich. (I am going back to try the Queen B, which is all veggie and has avocado on it. He says that's a local favorite.)

Also in the Hyde Park neighborhood is the first built of Austin's moon towers, of which 17 remain. Thirty-one towers were built in the mid-1890s to provide artificial lighting in the city. The moon towers are official archaeological landmarks and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, but you may know them from the movie Dazed and Confused, which was shot by Texas native Richard Linklater.

Moon tower

We also visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on the outskirts of Austin. The late Lady Bird was dedicated to protecting and preserving native plants. She was responsible for the campaign that led to the slew of wildflowers that bloom on the sides of roadways. The Wildflower Center is both a showplace for native plants and a research institution.

And of course, we ate. Highlights were a weekend brunch/lunch - enchiladas verdes, chili relleno and huevos rancheros - at Habanero Mexican cafe. We haven't gotten there that much since it's on the south side of town, but really we should go there more. And we dragged Mom to Billy's on Burnet for fried green tomatoes and beer out at the picnic tables. And the crowning glory was Louie Mueller Barbeque in Taylor (home of ERCOT, where Jon works), where you can get probably the most delicious cube of brisket anywhere in the US, if not the world. While you order, you get a little square, juicy and warm, on your tray.

On the way back from Taylor, there was no stopping me from seeking out a symbol of Texas. The Longhorn. Shown below, in all his glory. Except of course, that he's confined in a field next to a Westinghouse facility.

All in all, it was another good weekend where we dragged our visitor all over town, fed them til they popped and dropped them off at the airport, wondering when they could come back. P? Rob & Barb? Are you ready?

Film & Food at the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival

We had a fun night of food, wine and film on Thursday evening at an event at the Alamo Drafthouse downtown. As part of the annual Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival, MacMurray Ranch winery in Healdsburg (Sonoma), California hosted a showing of the Caine Mutiny with a special menu paired with MacMurray Ranch wines. MacMurray Ranch was started by Fred MacMurray, who plays the role of Lt. Thomas Keefer in the movie. His daughter, Kate MacMurray, who works at the ranch, discussed the wine, her father and the movie after the film was over. The food, which was delicious, was prepared by guest chefs from local restaurants and the Alamo's own chefs.

The Caine Mutiny is based on a Herman Wouk's Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It takes place during World War II and deals with the ethical dilemma faced by those in charge of a ship during a typhoon, with lives on the line and no time to consider the options before making important decisions. The movie was very entertaining. Humphrey Bogart turns in a great performance as Lt. Commander Queeg. Fred MacMurray was excellent in his role, and Van Johnson and José Ferrer were good as well.

Of course, a sure-fire way to enjoy a movie is to match it with Crottin de Chevre with Mâche & Pinot Noir-Poached Figs paired with a nice glass of Pinot Noir!


Great scene with Humphrey Bogart at the end of The Caine Mutiny