Bullock and Bats

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We had some fun today with Gordon and Leslie. 

First we were at the Bullock State History Museum which is behind the capitol on E. Martin Luther Jr. Blvd. The street in front is actually the continuation of Congress Ave but in recent years has been made into a pedestrian mall/green space. We've been several times before and, it turns out, we had taken Gord and Leslie on their last visit. Nevertheless there were some interesting things to see. First, it being Black History Month, there was an exhibit on the integration history in Texas and Austin — a city that intentionally had a planned "black part of town" (east side of IH35), Texans who refused to integrate, segregation at the State Fair and worse. Fortunately there was President Johnson with the Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965).

Second there was a tucked away exhibit of artwork by local students and all of them were outstanding. They also, in part, speak to the problems with discrimination that continue to this day. At this time the Texas governor is fighting with the Federal Government on border security — Gov. Abbott is without compassion. The razor wire on the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass to "protect us from them" is not the way to treat your fellow man.

That evening we took a Uber over to the south shore of Town Lake at the S. Congress Ave bridge is the perfect place to watch for bats. That's us above on some green space waiting for the bats. Gord was skeptical as this isn't the "prime season" but hung in. The weather has been very warm and we've read there a lot of bats coming out right now. As the dusk settles the bats, who have been nesting/hiding in long crevices under the bridge, come out for their feeding. I gather they live on insects which is one good reason to like them. There were 10's of thousands today. These are small bats, not the huge flying foxes that we've seen in Australia. Much like the bats we have at home.

Having caught a very good show with the bats we took an Uber up the street (SoCo: South Congress) to see if we might catch Whitney Rose who has an early show at the Continental Club. She has several records and I am a fan; Kate not so much. She's Canadian and had relocated to Austin (from PEI to Toronto to Austin). In recent years she's had health problems that had her return to Canada. She is back for Dale Watson's Ameripolitan Awards, I don't know if her health problems are over and if she has plans to stay in Austin. When we arrived the place was packed, the band was playing, but it was standing room only. With bad knees and ankles we decided instead to have lunch across the street at Joann's Fine Foods, Tex-Mes of course, where there's a nice outdoor patio. It's part of the Austin Motel which is famous for it's large sign that looks a lot like an erect penis and balls. It used to be a somewhat shabby spot but SoCo is quite trendy these days and the motel seems to be very nice.

Kate and I headed home afterwards. We convinced Gord and Leslie to go back to the Continental Club gallery (upstairs and not so busy) to see a show by Rosie Flores. We convinced them that she's an important long standing Texan artist and worth watching in that intimate environment. The show was jazzy, which none of us are particularly fond of, and they were somewhat disappointed.