A train with no track

These train cars are just sitting out along the edge of a field in NW San Antonio. I'm not sure why, but they are interesting.

Highway to Nowhere

Here's another highway construction project underway. I forget where exactly I got a shot of this, but I remember thinking it reminded me of that scene from Speed where they have to speed up to jump the gap. I've ridden buses all my life and I am still convinced there is no way in this world or probably another other with similar gravity that that could ever happen.

Street Revisions

The street work guys have been busy on this little intersection. This is Navarro St. It used to be three lanes and was made into two. Soledad was cut down from 4 to 2 lanes. I think I heard they were doing this to try to cut down on all the traffic shenanigans that go on, but I'll believe that it's helped when I see it.

FilmSA: Basement

This is the Central Library basement. I've heard that the hospital scene from the movie Selena was filmed here, but then they decided not to use it and filmed in another location. Not sure how true that is. I do know from watching the movie that one of the 3rd floor terraces was used for the scene where Selena is doing the news conference in Mexico.

Lunch at BK's

We went out to lunch today and I was surprised by Big J's choice--Big Kahuna's, but pleasantly so, since I love their food. I couldn't decide what I wanted so I got it all. Teriyaki noodle bowl, spring rolls and pot stickers. Big J got the Lemongrass noodle bowl and the basil chicken.

Raising Your Glass

Saw these as I was on my daily walk about. Looked up and there they were. I think it must be some kind of restaurant/bar, but this is the first time I noticed them. I've passed by here a few times before and they just didn't make an impression. Today they did, because of the light shining down through them. Right past this area on this very day, there was two guys and a girl filming something. I was gonna get them on camera, but missed my shot.

Riverwalk Ladder

Something is going on on the Riverwalk. A few days before we saw this diver suiting up and getting ready to go under. On this day we saw all these tarps and the ladder. I can only assume that the tarps are holding back the water in this little section. There's a bunch of other construction machines too. A section of the Riverwalk has also been closed off top and bottom.

Anyone out there know what's going on?

Las Palmas Library

This is the Las Palmas Library on Castroville bounded by 24th and Gen McMullen. Directly across the street from this location is San Fernando Cemetery and to the right is a YWCA and to the left is a Church of Latter Day Saints. You can see the building that used to be the Library and is now a WIC location here. This used to be my branch when I was in college. I would stop by almost every day on my way to work. I would haunt the new book shelves and then little by little worked my way through the fiction, romance and scifi sections.

El 7 Mares

We pass this restaurant pretty often on the way home. I've never been in there but I like it's name: the 7 Seas. If I'm not mistaken this is on Commerce, pretty close to Our Lady of the Lake on 24th Street.

Just Another Brick in the Wall, Part Deux

Once again it seems like something has crashed into the Southwest School of Art & Craft Navarro Campus. Last time, which I blogged about on January 9, 2008, I didn't know for sure what happened; but this time I got it straight from the news.

A motorist crashed a minivan into the Southwest School of Art and Craft this morning, police said.

A woman was driving the Honda van northeast on Augusta when the vehicle's steering wheel locked up as she turned onto Navarro.

The driver and two children in the back seat -- a toddler and an infant buckled into car seats -- were not injured.

A small section of the art school facade was damaged. Some bricks were broken, but the van did not drive through the building.

From MySA.com

Hertzberg Clock Movement

The movement for the Hertzberg Clock has been restored and is almost ready to be reinstalled. Here it is.

Full Moon

Heard on the news that today was one of those full moon days. They said that it always seems on these days that the moon is closer than ever, but it's just an illusion. I wanted to get a pic as it was rising, but I forgot. By the time I walked out to find the moon it was nowhere to be found from my front yard, but I did hear the neighbors talking about the same thing I had heard on the news. I went to the backyard and there it was, not as big as it would have been earlier in the evening, but boy was it bright.

Building Fountain

This was today's new discovery. We walk along the River Walk almost every day, even though I am almost developing a phobia about falling in. We pass by this stairway that is sometimes locked and sometimes not. One day we went up and it leads to the building that houses Blanco Cafe, I think the stairway is labeled Travis something or other. We couldn't find a way to get to the other side beyond going through the building so we did. And what did we find smack dab in the middle of it...this fountain.

The SPAMmobile

I saw this at the Folklife Festival over the weekend. I didn't even know there was a SPAMmobile. I've seen the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, but never this. I bet it would be a big hit in Hawaii (where they eat the most SPAM per capita), but you can't drive there.

Biking Along

Seems this sight is becoming more prevalent as the gas prices go higher and higher. You see more people riding bikes, scooters, or just piling on the bus. This lady was riding along Alamo right in front of River Center Mall. Just the other day I also noticed how one bike rack was almost overwhelmed with all the bikes chained up to it, hadn't seen that in like ever.

Little GTO

Anyone remember that song by Ronny & the Daytonas? I see this 1967 GTO sometimes when I walk from the bus stop downtown. I don't know who owns it but it's a daily driver. White with a blue bench seat. Nice car.

By the way, GTO is Italian: Gran Turismo Omologato

"C'mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out! GTO."

Segway Tours

Went to River Center Mall today on a hunt for a book only to find out that they no longer have a bookstore. Since it was a bust I got myself a strawberry shake (that was more than some of my complete lunches have been) and while waiting for the blue trolley saw these Segway tour guys. I've never been on these things, but these people sure looked like they were having fun.

Milam Diner Sign

Saw this sign for the Milam Diner as we were walking back from grabbing an ice cream at Justin's in Main Plaza. I've eaten at Milam's before and even passed it by many a time, but I don't think I've seen this sign before. I'm thinking it's new. I like the retro looking artwork on the sign.

New Building for Animal Care

This is the new building for Animal Care Services. The old one is located by the zoo. I like the colors of these new buildings. I must admit that I like those sculptures out front too. From the highway they look like a cat and dog maybe. I was mentioning to someone that they look like those crafts you do where you put glue on balloons and wrap string around them, let them dry, pop the balloons and the shape is left behind.

Decommissioned Fire Station

This is the previous Fire Station No.11 on Frio Street I think. It was closed down to make room for a new and improved version across the street and further south of this location. I wonder what they do with these old buildings? Anyone out there know?

Goodbye Jorries, Part 2

Sometime over the weekend the demolition was completed. I'm not sure when or how it happened. I wonder if they used explosives.

Class of 2008

This is a picture from the graduation ceremony of Harlandale High School's Class of 2008 at the Alamodome. We were there for the graduation of my niece. We've been lucky so far...of my 16.5 nephews and nieces, every single one of them who are of age have graduated from high school. I noticed the color of the 2008 was silver, and was wondering to my sister why they didn't make it gold, since maroon and gold are the colors of the Harlandale Indian's, but oh well. The lady who sang the national anthem did a great job.

High School Grad

I'm sure a scene similar to this was being played out all over the country. This was a graduation party for this couple's son. She's a teacher, has been for many a year, and I think I heard that he is thinking of the same profession.

Lunch at Blanco's

Took a co-worker to lunch at Blanco Cafe in downtown because he had never been. Got this shot of the crowd, boy was it packed. We just missed the crowd by coming a little earlier than every one else, but we weren't there but a few minutes when the place started getting crowded. They've added some more room to the right of this shot. They've also done some redecorating. I miss the Christmas lights along the ceiling, but I think the waitress mentioned that they bring them back every year.

Coaster Sunset

There's been so many beautiful sunsets lately that I just had to take this pic and post it. This is the sun setting right over a Sea World Coaster. Not sure which one it is, but I see the coasters every day on the way home from work.

Looking Up and Getting Dizzy

Took this shot the other day as I was ambling along the River Walk. Sometimes I've been tempted to lie on the ground and get some shots, though I have yet to do that, of course I have landed on the ground, through no fault of my own, but not on purpose of course. :D

Check Marks the Spot

Saw this sign the other day by some of my old stomping grounds. I like the look of some of these old signs and such. This one of course has seen better days and the storefront it now sits in front of is long gone, but I still like the look of it.

Goodbye Jorrie's

Demolition crews have started tearing down the old Jorrie's Furniture Store (later Lack's) at the corner of Quincy and San Pedro [131 San Pedro]. The building has been vacant for many years. The store was founded in 1927 by Rubin Jorrie, an immigrant from Lithuania.

UPDATE, JUNE 7: Here's an article that appeared in today's San Antonio Express-News about the building. CLICK HERE.
I don't have any new pictures because, as of yesterday, it didn't look much different.

Theme Day: My Corner Local Shop

While this H.E.B. is not really on a corner, or at least I don't think so, but I'll check next time I go again, it is one of my favorite stores. This is an HEB plus. You can buy furniture, electronics, food, drugs, plants, and gods know what else. We've been going here for years, especially after they got rid of the Handy Andy's and we moved away from Ben's. While we were growing up we did indeed have a little favorite store on the corner called the Tiendita (the little store). We used to play Centipede and the PacMan's there along with other arcade games. A few years ago we discovered they were selling Chinese food, pretty good from what I heard. I haven't got a pic of that, but it's on my to shoot list.