Heat, the Nightclub

This club is right off of downtown to the north on Main, among many other little venues. I've heard it being called a nightclub and some rumblings that it's a good place to get your dance on.

Just like clockwork

If you have ever wondered what the inside of the Hertzberg Clock looked like, here it is. This is the movement of the clock. It's located in the lower part of the case. There's a shaft that runs to the motion works that sits behind the dial to move the hands.

Overhaulin'

My stepfather is helping to overhaul the old Hertzberg Clock at St. Mary's and Houston streets. Local historian Ed Gaida is spearheading the project. That's him in the middle on the scaffold. Here's some history on the clock.

Cast in iron by E. Howard Clock Company of Boston, it was first installed in front of Eli Hertzberg Jewelry Company on Commerce Street in 1878. In 1910, the company – and its clock – moved to the corner of St. Mary’s and Houston Streets. When Zales purchased the company in 1964, the store relocated to suburbia, leaving the clock behind. The clock is unusual in that it continues to be hand wound rather than electrically driven.

The Hertzberg Clock also appeared in the blog last May:

Malling It

Went to Ingram Park Mall for the first time in a long while. I remember back in the day it had a book store, but I think they took it out a while ago--I looked anyway but no such luck. Took this shot as we were about to leave coming down on the escalator, from the 2nd floor, where I finally got a chance to stock up on some Clinique moisturizer at Dillard's.

Shopping Strip Sunset

The sunsets and clouds have been pretty spectacular lately. I think it must be the heat and the humidity. This is a shopping center over in the Sea World area.

Tufted Titmouse

Here's a Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) looking at me cautiously. See the crest on top of his head? That differentiates it from other chickadees. Oddly, they are only known as titmice in North America. The rest of the English-speaking world drops the "mouse" from the name.

Birdwatching

With the weather being so hot and dry lately, our birdbath has been getting a lot of visitors. I believe this is a female Painted Bunting. The male is spectacularly multicolored. I've seen him at the birdbath but I didn't have my camera at the time. Hopefully, he will be back and I'll be ready.

Curtain Shopping

My sister was introduced to Miller Curtain Outlet. We recently moved so we are still kitting out the new house. One of the things we still need are curtains. The outlet prices were of the can't pass this up kind. We walked out of there with enough curtains to outfit four or five rooms for around 60 bucks. Can't beat that. The outlet area is in the back of the store. The front is their main sales floor and they have some really nice stuff up there. My sister said they told her that you could bring in any swatch of fabric you had and they could match it up for you.

Papa Patrolling

I think this is the first Papa Patrol I've ever seen. As a child and up to now I remember only women. We used to see them on a daily basis as we were walking to and from school as they helped to get us safely there. I informed my nephew one day that WE didn't have any one driving to and from school (he asked why a boy was walking to school)--back then we were like the postal service, "during rain, snow and sleet". I remember one day walking to school and brushing up against a honeysuckle bush and getting swarmed by bees, I was lucky I only got stung three times. Another time I remember walking home during a storm and nearly getting struck by lightening. (It blackened the street next to us and the sidewalk in front of us.

I always am surprised by stuff that I take for granted that is everywhere (like breakfast tacos and pep rally's) that is more localized than I ever thought. Are mama or papa patrols around in your area?

Snacks, Snack Everywhere!

A coworker told me about this store today. I hadn't seen it before, even though I had been that way before. We stopped on the way back to work and picked up some stuff. I had just a few dollar bills in my pocket, but that was enough for me to walk out of there with five items--my nephews and nieces were ecstatic when I got home. If you want to drop by and check it out it's on El Paso.

Guillermo's Deli

I'm not sure I ever realized there was a deli in the downtown YMCA. Went there with a coworker and ordered the special. The sandwich was great, especially the bread. I did find out that just when I found them, they are looking to find a new location. They are taking suggestions, so if you know of a place that has space and needs an eatery drop them a line.

My past is catching up with me

I passed this 1966 VW Bug on the way to work yesterday. My first car was that exact model. I recognized the 1300 on the back when I saw this one yesterday. Zero to sixty in about 30 seconds downhill with a tailwind. It left me stranded a couple of times and it wouldn't start on rainy days - but I wish I still had it.

Thank God for Food

I've seen this "El Buen Gusto" sign on Santa Rosa street numerous times but I never noticed the "Thank God For Food" written underneath it. For some reason I find it very funny.

Trying the Trick

All of a sudden she's into skateboarding. Learned some trick from someone or other so she had to try it. She tried it over and over for close to an hour. She might have gotten it once or twice but it was hard to tell. She wanted all the wheels to come off the street. All I know is that her backside came into contact with the street a number of times. :D Although of course I always missed those shots.

A Haven Special

One of the guys I work with likes to eat these tacos from Taco Haven on S. Presa. I've passed it by a number of times and both my sister and her hubbie used to eat here quite often so they vouch for it too. This is a bean & cheese with bacon and guacamole. I must admit the colors make it a pretty picture but I can't stand guacamole. Anyone else out there eat anything that comes near this?

Spurs Colors Flying High

These flags are located at the University of the Incarnate Word. Usually where the black flag flies (the Spurs flag), there is another American flag--but even the nuns of the Incarnate Word get into the Spurs. If I'm not mistaken they also pray for them. :D

Way to Pack Them In

Saw these guys packed into the back of this truck on the way to grab something to eat. I haven't seen this in a while. Back when my little brother was in high school he and his friends would jam themselves into our little cars. I don't know how they did it because they were all these football players who were in no way small.

Frustrated cardinal

This little female cardinal desperately wanted to come through our living room window the other day. She couldn't figure out why she couldn't come through the glass. The photo is a little out of focus because my camera kept wanting to focus on the window instead of her.

Spurs Win!

King James loves the Spurs.

No, not LeBron. The King James Version of the Bible. David Robinson gave the sermon at Oak Hills this morning. Must've helped. It's a two outta three series now.

Go Spurs Go!

Well, since today is Game Four of the series vs. the Hornets, I thought this picture was appropriate. These are corn dogs dressed like Tim Duncan and a ref (Joey Crawford?) that I saw at NIOSA* this year. Go Spurs!

(*NIOSA = Night In Old San Antonio, the premiere event during San Antonio's week-long Fiesta in late April)

Eat at the Milam Diner

I was walking to the bus stop after work the other day and saw this hand-lettered sign on the door of the Milam Diner. It reminded me of the signs I used to make as a child.
Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Hybrid Taxi

Took a ride on a hybrid today. I had been curious about them and I got to ask some questions. We almost got a hybrid but it was just a bit more expensive than we would have liked. This hybrid was the first one in Texas, or so I was told. I asked the driver if he could tell any difference when driving it, and he said performance wise there was no difference, although of course it has saved them money on gas. He showed me how you could tell how much you had saved and such. He also told me how it switches between gas and electric on it's own. Pretty cool I must say.

Pad Woonsen @ Asia Kitchen

Went to Asia Kitchen (blogged about it on January)today. My sister wanted to try the chicken Pho, but she also wanted the Pad Woonsen (Glass noodles stir fried with bean sprouts, green onions, black mushrooms, broccoli and carrots.), and I like it too so I told her to get what she wanted and I would share with her if she didn't like it. We also ordered the spring rolls as appetizers. By the time I got around to eating my entree I was no longer hungry, having eaten some spring rolls, a taste of my sisters pho and of course some white rice.

If you'd like to check it out, you can find their website here.

OLLU on Fire

Was watching tv when all of a sudden Shark was interrupted by breaking news. Our Lady of the Lake University was on fire. It was so strange to watch on tv. I remember going to classes in that exact building and waiting in the registrars office many a time. While watching the newscast I remember everyone being riveted by the statue of Our Lady up top the building. Everyone was worried that the fire would consume her, but instead it took the spire on the right.

Photos and video taken that night made it into many a news story and site, such as MSNBC.

Hacienda Durango

We passed this restaurant today. I think we've passed it before, but I never really noticed it. Today I noticed it because it was advertising a really good deal for breakfast. I told my sister we would have to stop by and try it one day. It advertised eggs, pork chops and a whole bunch of other stuff for not very many pesos.

Happy Cinco de Mayo.

Main Plaza

This is a picture of the new Main Plaza layout. The metal box on the left is a Justin's ice cream stand. I haven't tried it yet but I am hoping they serve the Mango ice cream that they make for the Menger Hotel. The renovations to Main Plaza are not complete yet. They were supposed to be done in April, but it does look nice.

Rancher's Delight

I was in the mood for some meat today. We go to Bill Miller fairly often. Sometimes I get something sometime not. Usually I get the chicken tenders or maybe chicken pieces or chicken delight (salad with chicken), but not today. I had to pay a pretty penny for this, since it wasn't on the menu. I like their brisket and the sauce. Their sausage is also pretty good. I also love their pickles. They used to have pickle spears, but all they have now is slices-best pickles in SA.

Theme Day: Yellow 1906

Saw this building on S. Presa I think. I really liked the yellow color and the sign with what I'm assuming is it's address. I just noticed the bugs on the ceiling line too. I'm wondering if it's some kind of exterminator business.