Jack Frost Garden

I saw this on the way to lunch. I've gone over to the Southwest School of Art and Craft many a time, but I had never seen this. I liked the way it looked with the moss. I didn't get to see all that it said until I uploaded and noticed that the it was the Adele and Jack Frost Garden.

CityNAP

When this building first went up I had no idea what it was, so of course I had to look it up on the Internet--what else is there to do in this day and age. Well I found out what NAP stood for: Network Access Point. From their website: CityNAP streamlines communications business. We are an unaligned Network Access Point. That means that any company can colocate any computer equipment within our facility and connect to any carrier. For carriers we provide free access with dual fiber entries. CityNAP also includes a conference center, comfortable staging and work areas outside the main datacenter rooms and a full kitchen with all the soda you can drink.

Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker

This is the inside of Steve and Barry's on the southside of San Antonio. I didn't even know it was there. I was reading an article about this new clothing line and checked it out online. When I looked up store locations we saw there was one on the southside then my sister said someone had told her about it. From the outside I would have never suspected what it was.

Found Item

Saw this on a walk sign. I wasn't sure what it said until I got closer, then of course I had to take a pic of it. It says "Spurs Are Gonna Kill You".

Fat Cat (and Bird)

Here's a closeup of the Botero sculptures on display in the library. Kinda creepy from this angle. The cat has human eyes!

Wash, Rinse and Repeat

I decided it was time to cut my hair today. I've had it for about two to three years, it always seems longer than it actually is. I didn't know where to go so Hair Talk on the southside was recommended. I liked the service and staff and can safely say that I will be going back.

Radio Tower reflections

These buildings are right smack in the middle of downtow. What I noticed this day is that they hold a reflection of he radio tower that I see most days. I took my life in my hands this day, since it was lightning and it seems to seek me out where ever I be.

Clouds on Radio

I think I might have shown something similar to this before, but this day the clouds really struck me. I just like the way the whole image came together.

Miniature Golfing

I love the sign of this miniature golfing course. It's so retro. Can't remembe if I've been here, but I think other members of my family have. I always feel like such a giant when I'm minature golfing, of course it doesn't help that my swing is so wild that my golf balls end up outside of the course, way outside.

Pink on Clouds

I don't know what kind of plant/flower this is, but I liked it's color. We stopped by the Target on Goliad and it was getting ready to rain as you can see from the clouds in the background.

Good Eating

This isn't quite in San Antonio, but it's close enough to post. I love this place. It's one of those roadside restaurants that seem to pop up. We order from here quite frequently. I ate here for the first time today. Their service is excellent and their food is good too. I love their Chicken Fajita Nachos. If you're ever on 181 stop by and try them.

Class of 2007

Don't know about everyone else, but right now it's Graduation season in San Antonio. Although it was a bit ago, I can still remember my graduation.

Transit Police

These guys are so needed, especially in downtown San Antonio. There are so many times that we see people going down the bus only lanes, or just plain old going down the one way streets. Now granted downtown driving is a bit confusing, what with it's box model and all the one way streets, but puhleeze.

La Fiesta

There are still a few La Fiesta's left in San Antonio. This one is on Cupples and Castroville. We've been to it a couple of times in the past. I think now we only go to it if there's no other place open. I know my sister went to it during Easter, when H.E.B. and the other stores were closed.

Mi Tierra at Market Square

We met some friends for dinner here a little while ago. I had not been there in a while and forgot how colorful it is. It is a very fun place to eat when you want to be in the midst of lively people, music, vendors and so on. It can be a little loud. I think they had live music right outside when we went but we sat inside to talk.

I am off to work in Seguin now so I will bid you all farewell for the SA DP. I have really enjoyed getting to know about blogging and photography and meeting all our online friends! Thank you for teaching me so much about your lovely cities and towns and yourselves.

I will try and keep up with my Seguin DP and personal blog. Hope to see some of you there! Take care and have a great week.

Boots at Bills

I see these boots every time I go to Bill Millers in downtown San Antonio. I've always just liked the look of them, as if someone just plopped them down.

Fluttering Ribbons

I took this in the late afternoon. I really liked the way the ribbons looked all fluttery like. The Central Library was being dressed in finery in preparation for a Botero event.

The Palace

I've been trying to get a shot of this billboard for a while now. I always think it's so funny because I wonder if the people who see this and want to go, think this is actually what they are going to get. :D

Little pig, little pig

I saw this pig thingie at Ross on Goliad. I couldn't resist taking a picture of it after my niece noticed it and pointed it out.

Garage Geometry

This is the Central Library garage. Contrary to popular belief the staff of the library do not get to park free here, they have to pay just as everyone else does, and they can't even park on the first floor even then, but I digress, probably because this was such a dark day...this was Thien's last day at the library. We had an evacuation, the fire engines came and all that. This was after they let us back in, we cut through the garage and the colors and shapes of the metal handrails along with the red walls of the library and the concrete walls of the garage just all came together for me.

Geometrics at the Library

I just love all the shapes you get at the Library. I love how all the square window panes make up the big windows, and then the rectangular shapes of the book shelves. This is the downtown Central Library. I took this shot from the fourth floor, looking down to the Children's floor on the 3rd floor from the telephone reference area.

Metal Work Door

We had dinner at La Fonda today and as we were approaching it I saw this door. Janie was with me at the time and told me take a pic of the door and I was like already there. Our waiter here was uber great, I forget his name, maybe Steve, but I do remember that he was from the southside. He was nice enough to take a group shot of us as we finished up. I had chicken puffy tacos here, not as good as the ones at Ray's puffy tacos, but they'll do in a pinch.

Botero at Central Library

And here is the exhibit in place! It took a few hours to unload the sculptures from the truck and to get them rolled into the building. Then, many staff members and other involved parties had to move it off the palette, without damaging it and without automatic equipment (crane would have been nice), and set it into place. The cat weighs 900 pounds I heard. Have yet to confirm that. The bird weighs about 60 pounds. Both are bronze. As I mentioned yesterday, this exhibit is only for 3 months and is on loan from a private collector. We will soon get our very own Botero Horse. Not many public libraries can say they have a Chihuly, a Botero and a Sebastian.

If you would like more information on Botero, check the Wikipedia.

Big event at the Library

There was a lot of excitment at Central Library this morning. This is a teaser shot for you; you'll have to visit again tomorrow to see the final installation.

Hint: it's a Botero sculpture. We are getting a permanent one soon but this sneak peak is a 3-month only exhibit.

Water Tower Crown

This water tower looks like it's got a crown. I never realized how many water towers are out and about. I always wonder what they are used for. Any ideas? Thien over at Seguin Daily Photo posted a photo of a water tower in similar circumstances...check it out.

Mans Best Friend

Saw this on the way out of town. I thought the little red car was cute and then to see the dog patiently waiting for his master. It was a nice way to start a day of traveling.

Hertzberg Clock

This clock is on St. Mary's and Houston. It's been there for ever. Someone on one of the other DP sites mentioned wanting to see more of this kind of thing, so this one is for them. A painting of it can be seen at the Central Library on a wall mural.

No Smoking

When I first saw this sign I was dumbfounded. I was like why are they bothering to tell us that no smoking alarm will sound. To this day I still smile when I see this sign. Of course it could just be me that reads it wrong, without a pause in between. What say y'all?

Texas bluebonnets

(Lupinus texensis)
All six species of lupine that grow in Texas have been designated as the official state flower by the State Legislature. They start blooming in late March and, unfortunately, they are just about done. There is a fairly rare pink variety that blooms exclusively in this area. I had hoped to get a photo of it but I missed my chance this year.

Handy Andy, Handy Andy

An old and familiar site. You don't see much of these anymore. I think there might be like two or so left in San Antonio. This one is in the west side of San Antonio, right behind it is Our Lady of the Lake University.

Fred's Fish Fry

We used to eat this alot as children. Although it was more of a treat than a regular thing. We still eat this quite often, my sister especially likes it. There aren't that many of them left in the San Antonio area, but most are still in the same location they've always been. Does anyone have these where they are at?

Roadway Shrines

You see these all over, especially at the sites of bad accidents etc. This one is on Palo Alto Rd under 35.

Purple Flowers

I love flowers, any kind really, but my favorites are wildflowers. I have no idea what these are, but they are all over our yard; not in whole carpets as in seasons past, but in patches here and there. I do miss the bluebonnets this year, but I'll take what I can get. I had to get low to the ground to get this perspective. Thankfully the spinas haven't really come in yet, so I didn't get too many stickers on me, and of course I had to watch out for the fire ants, the scorpions and other sundry.

The Leap

I loved the look of this hood ornament. I've never been in a jag but my sister knows a man who used to drive one, now he drives around in a caddie.

DVDs at Micky D's

I saw this at McDonald's and was surprised. I had yet to see one of these. I think Thien told me taht she had seen something like this on one of her travels, but this was the first time for me. Of course while taking this pic I also noticed that McD's also now has free WiFi. What will the world come to next. :D

Men at Work

I saw this on the way to lunch one day. I really have no idea what they were doing, beyone maybe something to do with water but it drew my eye anyway.

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling, Roll On

Saw this as the rain was rolling into downtown SA. I don't think I'd ever seen a cloud like this. Later on on the news, the weather caster (sounds like some kind of witch, huh?) said it was a roll cloud. I just like the way it looked, especially with the red library backdrop.

Fiesta Flambeau Parade '07

Went to our first Flambeau Parade this year and had a great time. We were fortunate enough to have seats, I can't imagine standing for hours during the parade but there were lots of people doing that. You can buy seat tickets from a variety of businesses along the parade route. Our seats were on Alamo St., close to the Alamo, and it was a very nice location and a perfect evening for a night parade. This is one of the biggest night parades in the country apparently.

The first photo is of a group from Houston. Many people joined the parade -- including groups from across Texas but also from Mississippi, Florida, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Oregon, Maryland, New Jersey and Mexico! The music was wonderful and it was just neat to see how happy people are during the parade.

The second photo below was just neat b/c it reminded me of my niece who loves dragons so I snapped this one for her. Plus, I love the title this woman has, President of the Order of the Cascaron (those confetti eggs you crack on people's heads!). I don't know what her role is but that's a cool title to have.

For more information about Flambeau, visit their site.

Bike Rack at Central Library

Finally, I see someone is using the bike rack! I go to the Flambeau Parade on Saturday evening (our first time). I believe this is the last parade of Fiesta so I'll try and get a good capture for a post on Monday. Have a good weekend everyone!

Storm Damage

As we were driving into work today we saw some broken trees from the storm yesterday. We had a lot of lightening for the most part, and for a while there, we thought there might be a tornado, but we were luckier than the people of Eagle Pass.

What do you think this is?

This was just installed at the Central Library last week. Do you know what it is? I will post an explanation this week.

And Edwin S. of Kuala Lumpur DP asked about our blog description. We are indeed now "two gals and a guy" b/c Sarah has moved on and is no longer posting. However, as she created the blog, we haven't figured out how to remove her from the permission list.

Riverwalk at the Hilton Palacio

This is where I like to go if I plan to take a river barge tour with visitors from out of town. It's a little less crowded in terms of restaurants and people so to me it's very peaceful. Plus I love the green trees. That's the Hilton on the left. It was library conferencing time last week so we went to meet some friends for a drink there. We sat inside, one floor above the riverwalk and it was really a nice spot to watch activities down on the river.

Clock tower

This is the clock tower at the Southwest Craft Center, formerly Ursuline Academy. There is a clock on each side of the tower except for this, the north side.
Why?
Supposedly, when the tower was built in the late 1850's, no one lived north of the academy!

Fiesta 2007

Fiesta is already practically here and there are commerative pins you can find all around town. These are the Flambeau pins, I like the one on the left most. That's the Tower of America popping like a firecracker!

Fiesta is a 10-day (officially) + maybe a few days (unofficially) of partying throughout the entire city. Even city employees get a day off due to all the parades and festivals and parties and all other kinds of celebratory activities. As we move through Fiesta, I'm sure you'll see photos here. And if you are ever coming to SA, you should definitely think about coming during Fiesta! For more info, you can visit the official website.

Another library photo?

OK, I promise that I will take pictures of other sights here in SA. Our library is just so unique!

San Fernando

This is San Fernando Church (now a cathedral) as it looked sometime before 1872. It is the geographical center of San Antonio. Until 1811, San Antonio was known as Villa San Fernando. The original city limits were a square, six miles to a side, with San Fernando in the middle. The cornerstone was laid in 1738 and the church probably looked much like this at the time of the Alamo battle in 1836.

Another butterfly

Spring is back, after last weekend's near-freezing temperatures - a rarity for this time of year in San Antonio. So, here's a Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) feeding on some Texas Lantana (Lantana horrida).

City Hall

This is an old picture of San Antonio's City Hall. It doesn't look nearly this good anymore. A 1927 renovation added a fourth floor, requiring the removal of the porticos, turrets and cupola. It's a shame they couldn't put them back. They talked about it in 1992, but nothing was done. Evidently, the original plans and drawings have been lost.